Vladimir Dalekin, a 45-year-old former Russian fighter accused of murdering cryptocurrency millionaire Roman Novak and his wife Anna, has died in a prison in the United Arab Emirates.
Dalekin was reportedly found dead in his cell last month, but the circumstances surrounding his death were not immediately made public. Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service disclosed his death today.
Russian media reports attributed his death to an unspecified longstanding chronic illness. However, Dalekin had not previously been reported to have suffered from health problems.
He was one of three Russian nationals accused of abducting and killing Novak, 38, and Anna, 37, a former television reporter, in Dubai last year.
Couple Lured to Meeting in Dubai
Roman and Anna Novak were last seen alive in October last year when they travelled to meet people they believed were potential investors in Hatta, a mountain resort area in Dubai.
The couple, who lived in the UAE, had showcased an affluent lifestyle on social media, including fast cars and private jets.
Investigators alleged that the couple were kidnapped and murdered in a villa before their bodies were dismembered. Their remains were later discovered buried in a desert after relatives in Russia reported them missing.
The couple’s disappearance prompted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding their final movements and the people they had arranged to meet.
Two Other Russians Accused Alongside Dalekin
Dalekin was accused alongside Konstantin Shakht, 53, a former homicide investigator who allegedly became involved in drug smuggling, and Yury Sharypov, 46, another former fighter.
The three men were accused of posing as investors to lure Novak and his wife to the meeting before abducting and killing them.
According to allegations reported by Russian media, the suspects travelled to the UAE on three separate occasions in connection with the operation.
After the couple were allegedly abducted, the suspects demanded the password to Novak’s cryptocurrency wallet.
The accusations have linked the killings to an alleged attempt to gain access to the businessman’s digital assets.
Messages Allegedly Sent During the Abduction
During the incident, Novak reportedly sent messages to contacts on his phone claiming he was stranded in the mountains near the Oman border and urgently needed £152,000.
The messages raised concerns among people who knew him, although the circumstances in which they were sent formed part of the wider allegations surrounding his disappearance.
Novak had presented himself as a wealthy cryptocurrency entrepreneur with influential connections, including Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder of the Telegram messaging platform.
Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda reported that Novak had cultivated an image of someone who operated among wealthy businesspeople and prominent figures in the Middle East.
Crypto Millionaire Was Under Investigation Before Disappearance
Novak was reportedly under investigation when he disappeared over allegations that he had obtained more than £38 million from cryptocurrency investors under the pretext of developing business ventures.
Russian reports said alleged victims included businesspeople from China and countries in the Middle East.
Komsomolskaya Pravda described Novak as someone who had persuaded people to entrust him with substantial sums of money by presenting himself as a well-connected entrepreneur.
He reportedly operated a cryptocurrency network promoted as fast and reliable, using an application developed by Ukrainian programmers.
Russian media also reported that Novak had previously served a prison sentence for embezzlement.
The allegations concerning his business activities remain separate from the accusations that he and his wife were abducted and murdered.
Couple’s Children Taken in by Anna’s Parents
Following the couple’s disappearance and deaths, their children were taken in by Anna’s parents.
The children were left without their parents as investigators pursued the case involving the three Russian suspects.
Dalekin’s death in UAE custody leaves questions about the circumstances of his final hours, while the reported chronic illness cited by Russian media has not been accompanied by further details in the information released so far.
