A wealthy Russian businessman who brutally assaulted his girlfriend, leaving her with catastrophic head injuries, has died of a suspected heart attack after being told he would either face a lengthy prison sentence or be sent to fight in Ukraine.
Attack and Injuries
Dmitry Kuzmin, 41, a road construction mogul, was charged with the attempted murder of 33-year-old model Anzhelika Tartanova following an attack on November 23 of last year. The assault caused severe brain damage and shattered bones, forcing surgeons to remove half of her skull to save her life.
Neurosurgeon Vyacheslav Smirnov described the case as complex and severe, noting that Tartanova suffered not only a subdural haematoma but also damage and destruction of brain tissue. She has begun a slow recovery but continues to struggle with impaired speech, memory, and coordination.
Psychological Trauma and Death
Russian media reports indicate that Kuzmin's heart failed due to the psychological trauma of the criminal case brought against him following the horrific beating. Initially, he had hoped to avoid jail time and was even permitted to visit the victim in the hospital before the charges were upgraded to attempted murder.
He was informed that he faced at least eight years in prison, with the only alternative being to enlist in the Russian army to fight in Ukraine. The news proved too much for him, leading to a fatal heart attack.
Family's Reaction
Tartanova's sister, Anastasia Beloglazova, expressed the family's horror at the brutality of the assault, asking what kind of animal one must be to treat a person like that. She described the situation as horrifying.
Despite the death of her attacker, Tartanova faces a long road to recovery as she continues to deal with the lasting cognitive and physical consequences of the trauma. She had earlier revealed her injuries on television, saying she was very scared to look in the mirror for a long time.
