Oh, hold onto your tax returns, folks! We’ve got a story here that combines international intrigue with a sprinkle of financial misfortune. A Montreal resident, Nikolay Goltsev, finds himself at the crossroads of law, ethics, and perhaps more potently, an outrageous real estate predicament—all thanks to some questionable dealings involving Russian drones and missiles. Talk about a house of cards… except, these cards are on fire!
So, here’s the scoop—Goltsev, our 38-year-old protagonist who resides in the glitzy West Island of Montreal, is allegedly the gift that keeps on giving to the Russian military. Last year, he was caught in the U.S. with his hand in the cookie jar, or more accurately, the supply chain. Federal officials report that he became a key player in a scheme that funneled essential electronic parts to Russia—pieces vital for their combat helicopters and, you guessed it, drones and missiles! I mean, when you’re thinking about a productive afternoon, helping the enemy probably isn’t on the list of good life choices.
According to the authorities, this not-so-nice fellow managed to send over **300 electronic parts** to support the Russian war machine. And what did he receive in return? Apart from the distasteful buzz of moral bankruptcy, it turns out he’s now facing a gigantic tax bill of **$780,000**! Yes, folks, you heard that right—he’s in hot water with the Canada Revenue Agency. Talk about a double whammy! He might soon be evicted from his cozy abode due to unpaid taxes while still facing serious prison time in the U.S. It’s almost a plot twist worthy of a blockbuster film! Perhaps we could call it “House Arrest: Russian Edition.”
But wait, there’s more! While Goltsev’s international escapades are certainly eyebrow-raising, the kicker here is that apart from potentially losing his freedom for up to **20 years**, he could also lose his **$848,800** property due to claims by TD Bank. So essentially, not only is this guy losing his pride, but he might also be booted from his fancy digs quicker than you can say, “I’d like to report my ex-partner to the tax office!”
Goltsev’s accomplice, Kristina Puzyreva, who sounds like the kind of person who might be plotting a takeover of a sci-fi universe while sipping her morning coffee, joked about getting rich through these escapades. Well, Kristina, it seems the cosmos has other plans because the only thing Goltsev might be getting rich in is regret. “We’re going to get rich,” she reportedly whispered to an accomplice—only to later realize that instead of a yacht, they might just be sharing a jail cell!
This twisty tale of taxes and treachery unfolds as Goltsev awaits a sentencing hearing that could redefine what it means to “live free or die hard”—only in this case, it might just be “live behind bars or become broke hard,” which doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, does it?
As the countdown continues, it remains to be seen whether our so-called ‘economic patriot’ will attempt to rectify his financial mess before inevitably donning a bright orange jumpsuit. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how this all pans out—so grab your popcorn, folks! This story has more turns than a soap opera!
– With philological flair and a dash of cheeky commentary.
Got a tip on how to avoid tax evasion AND espionage? Sound off in the comments below!
A Montrealer who helped Russia obtain equipment needed to manufacture drones and missiles for its invasion of Ukraine could soon lose his opulent West Island home due to $780,000 in unpaid taxes.
• Also read: A Montrealer admits to having supplied the Russian army
• Also read: Russian drones and missiles in Ukraine: a Montrealer guilty of conspiracy
Just this week, the Canada Revenue Agency filed a notice of legal hypothec against Nikolay Goltsev, our Bureau of Investigation has learned.
“Under the Income Tax Act, he must pay the amounts, as well as interest,” we can read in a court document.
Photo taken from Google Streetview
Goltsev, a 38-year-old resident of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, is the Russian-Canadian who was caught last year in the United States, in connection with a vast plot aimed at circumventing sanctions against Russia.
Nikolay Goltsev pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in the United States for sending parts needed to make drones and missiles to Russia. PHOTO FROM KRISTINA PUZYREVA’S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT
According to American authorities, this network had managed to send more than 300 electronic parts that the Russian army needed for the maintenance of combat helicopters and tanks, but also to manufacture drones and missiles.
The Russian army’s T-72B3 tank, seen during a parade in Moscow in June 2020, requires components that cannot be produced locally. Archive photo, AFP
The equipment parts were mainly semiconductors and integrated circuits, which were more difficult to obtain in Russia due to sanctions imposed following the invasion of Ukraine.
“We’re going to get rich,” Kristina Puzyreva, Goltsev’s Montreal partner, confided to an accomplice. The latter had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in a New York court.
Montrealers Kristina Puzyreva and her partner Nikolay Goltsev. Photo taken from Kristina Puzyreva’s Facebook account. Photo taken from Kristina Puzyreva’s Facebook account.
Shell companies
Goltsev, for his part, said by text message that he wanted to serve Russia “in any way we can.” But his shipments to Russia did not come under the radar of American authorities, even though he and an accomplice used front companies, and the shipments passed through other countries before arriving in his motherland.
“The defendants flouted American law to help Russia in its war against Ukraine, but they were stopped in their tracks and quickly brought to justice,” said the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. , Breon Peace, this summer.
The Russian army’s Ka-52 helicopter, seen during a parade in Moscow in May 2020, requires components that cannot be produced locally. Archive photo, AFP
Goltsev will be sentenced in December. But if he risks losing his freedom for a maximum of 20 years, he could also lose his property in Montreal.
Because in addition to the federal tax authorities, TD Bank also went to court to forcibly sell Goltsev’s house, with a property value of $848,800. As he is currently detained in the United States, we do not know at this time whether he will try to resolve his problems in Canada, before serving his sentence in our neighbors to the South.
-With Philippe Langlois, Investigation Office
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