"While Dubai police are claiming she “fell”, they are also the same people who claimed Princess Latifa was “safe and happy" in the "loving care of her family” says, Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai. "They also claimed Lee Bradley Brown somehow beat himself to death in police custody.
"The circumstances surrounding Maria Kovalchuk’s battered body must be independently investigated. We can expect to hear all sorts of stories from Dubai’s media office and police but they should not be taken at face value as they have a proven track record of cover ups.
"We should also recognise that the truth about safety in Dubai has been covered up for decades. It is illegal for the media to report on incidents that are detrimental to the positive image of the country, government or police and they risk criminal sanctions for doing so. Dubai maintains the image that it is one of the safest places in the world and tourists would have the impression that they are completely safe from violent crime but this is completely untrue based on the numerous reports we have received over the past almost two decades. None of these reports ended up in the crime statistics, they were stories that were swept under the rug, even to the point of authorities refusing to investigate or prosecute the accused in the face of overwhelming evidence.
"Women have become particularly vulnerable in Dubai because of the justice system. Those who live there, who are familiar with the system and largely immune from ramifications for their own legal violations, threaten their victims with travel bans, criminal complaints or worse if they do not comply. They tell their victims that they will be locked up if they dare try to make a police complaint and they are not wrong.
"The British and Australian Embassies have warned female victims of violent and sexual assaults to abandon any plans to report the crime because they themselves could end up in prison. Instead, the numerous victims have fled the country. Keep in mind, I am speaking of Western women here, many of them in professional positions including lawyers. Imagine the women in more vulnerable positions? Domestic and hotel staff are particularly vulnerable as are entertainers and models who are likely to be seen as objects for exploitation. Then we have women from Africa and Asia who are frequently abused and exploited with no recourse.
"It doesn’t help that influencers and models continue to promote Dubai as a glamorous, luxurious and safe destination, often ignoring the darker realities behind the scenes. Many influencers accept all-expenses-paid trips in exchange for positive content, effectively becoming part of the public relations machinery. Their posts paint a picture of perfection that draws in tourists and business, while the systemic issues of injustice, censorship and exploitation remain hidden from view.
"And despite the impression that Dubai is a very strict, moral and law abiding society, this does not apply to the rulers, the VIP’s and those with “Wasta”, the types who are employing foreign women, hosting events and parties where such exploitation is likely to take place.
"The case of Maria Kovalchuk highlights a much deeper issue within Dubai’s justice system and public image. When the authorities controlling the narrative have a history of misinformation and cover-ups, their claims warrant scepticism, not trust. Beneath the city’s carefully curated image lies a reality in which victims, particularly women, are left without protection or justice. Until there is transparency, accountability and an end to the impunity enjoyed by those in power, the illusion of safety in Dubai remains just that, an illusion."
