Iryna Zarutska’s Boyfriend Speaks Out

Stanislav “Stas” Nikulytsia, 21, shared a sweet picture of himself and Zarutska together in bathing suits on his Instagram account on Wednesday, accompanied by a simple broken heart emoji — his first public statement since Zarutska’s murder.

In his Instagram stories, Nikulytsia reposted clips slamming Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes, who freed Zarutska’s alleged killer, Decarlos Brown, on cashless bail seven months before the horrific knife attack onboard a Charlotte train on Aug. 22.

One of the stories claimed Stokes was not even a qualified lawyer.

Nikulytsia, who was living with his love in Charlotte for the past year and was described as Zarutska’s “life partner” in her obituary, also changed his Instagram bio to a mushroom emoji, a favorite symbol of Iryna’s, and a broken heart.

“They didn’t want to come to this country and be a burden. They wanted to come to this country to build a new life,” Zarutska’s uncle said.

In the family’s emotional statement, they said they were “heartbroken beyond words. Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead her life was stolen from her in the most horrific way. No family should have to go through this.”