International Crime Probe Launched After Russian Couple Vanishes in UAE
A horrifying international crime is under investigation after a St. Petersburg couple, Roman and Anna Novak, disappeared in the United Arab Emirates and were later found dead. Russian authorities are treating the case as a murder following a suspected kidnapping for ransom that was centred around access to cryptocurrency assets.
Disappearance and a Deadly Trap
The sequence of events reads like a script from a crime thriller. The Novaks, who were living in Dubai, were last seen alive on October 2. Their driver dropped them off near a lake in the remote Hatta area, close to the Oman border. They had been told they were attending a meeting with potential investors for a new business venture.
Instead of proceeding with their driver, the couple transferred into a second vehicle and vanished. After several days of no contact, worried relatives reported them missing. Investigators now believe the business meeting was a complete ruse. The couple was lured to a rented villa where they were attacked after the kidnappers failed to gain access to their crypto funds.
The plot turned fatal, and the dismembered remains of Roman and Anna Novak were discovered the very next day, on October 3, near the coastal city of Fujairah. The couple leaves behind two young children.
A History of Crypto Wealth and Fraud
The murder plot is deeply connected to Roman Novak's controversial background in the world of digital finance. He had cultivated a public image as a successful entrepreneur, even claiming connections to influential figures like Telegram founder Pavel Durov.
He launched an investment platform named Fintopio, which promised rapid cryptocurrency transfers and attracted significant investment from Russia, China, and the Middle East. However, this success was short-lived. In November 2020, Novak was convicted of large-scale fraud in a St. Petersburg court for defrauding investors in his projects. He was sentenced to six years in prison.
After being granted parole, he moved abroad to the UAE in 2023 and immediately began seeking investment for new digital ventures, setting the stage for the final, tragic chapter of his life.
International Manhunt and Suspects Detained
The investigation has escalated into a high-priority international effort, with Russian and Emirati law enforcement working closely together. The Russian Investigative Committee officially opened a murder case following the couple's unexplained disappearance.
Authorities have identified eight Russian citizens as suspects. Seven of these individuals have already been detained in Russia. The group is believed to consist of three organizers who masterminded the kidnapping and murder, and five hired intermediaries who were allegedly used unwittingly to set up the fake business meeting.
Tracking the suspects was complex. Law enforcement traced their movements via surveillance and phone signals, which briefly appeared in Oman and later in South Africa before going silent entirely on October 4. The three main murder suspects are reported to include two individuals from St. Petersburg and one from Kazakhstan, all of whom are believed to have returned to Russia after the crime.
