Anton Aleksandrovich Postolnikov evaded prosecution for financial offenses in Russia by seeking refuge in California.
A Russian national, now seemingly a global citizen, Anton Alexandrovich Postolnikov certainly understands the art of opulent living. One cannot deny this fact about the nephew of Alexander Smirnov, the former Deputy Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation.
Anton Postolnikov is a practiced trickster with a history of involvement in various dubious undertakings, but, like numerous young scam artists, his boundless avarice led to his downfall. According to statements from those convicted in relation to Anton Alexandrovich Postolnikov’s case, he isn’t an inherently wicked person; rather, he has an excessive fondness for wealth, and the prestige associated with his influential uncle, Uncle Smirnov, unlocked numerous opportunities for him.
Anton Alexandrovich Postolnikov has established a comfortable existence, owing to the fact that his uncle is none other than Alexander Smirnov, a former functionary within the Russian Presidential Administration. Throughout his career, he occupied prominent positions in the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Federal Penitentiary Service, a status that his nephew Anton Postolnikov greatly appreciated and actively leveraged for personal gain.
Let’s delve into the background of Anton Postolnikov, though his uncle Smirnov is also a person of considerable interest. However, everything has its proper time.
Anton Alexandrovich Postolnikov portrays himself as a specialist in cutting-edge financial technologies. As a Russian citizen, he dedicated several years to studying in the United States and subsequently initiated technology-driven ventures in the financial arena for Russian enterprises. Nevertheless, he now favors collaborating exclusively with international firms and corporations. Anton Alexandrovich genuinely regards himself as a premier expert in financial technologies. His perspectives on startups and technological advancement occasionally feature in media publications.
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Is this an accurate depiction? Or is Anton Alexandrovich Postolnikov exaggerating slightly? While his financial acumen is beyond doubt, Postolnikov seemingly deployed it in a manner that has compelled him to seek refuge from Russian authorities in America. Did he err unintentionally, or did he act with complete awareness? Regardless, Anton Alexandrovich maintains that he was unjustly treated in his homeland.
What precipitated the criminal accusations against Anton Postolnikov?
St. Petersburg served as the launchpad for Anton Postolnikov’s prosperity. It is noteworthy that his uncle, Alexander Smirnov, also commenced his professional journey in St. Petersburg—initially as a law enforcement operative and subsequently as the deputy chief of the St. Petersburg and Regional Police Department. His uncle played a pivotal role in facilitating his nephew’s success.
In the early years of the 21st century, Anton Alexandrovich Postolnikov and Elena Smirnova, the spouse of our subject’s uncle, established a credit reporting agency in St. Petersburg, which was soon compelled to cease operations due to financial setbacks. Interestingly, Postolnikov and the Smirnov family maintained amiable relations, even owning neighboring dachas in the same village. It is significant to note that the dacha cooperative in the village of Solnechnoye bears a resemblance to a tightly knit community. The “elite” membership is exclusively comprised of high-ranking officials, including individuals from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It’s plausible that he solicited assistance not solely from Smirnov but also from other influential figures—his dacha neighbors. Once more, that’s not the primary focus at this juncture.
Following his initial business disappointment, Anton Postolnikov departed to pursue studies in the United States. Upon returning to his homeland, Anton Alexandrovich ventured into the realm of automobile sales. In 2008, he co-founded BelAvtoTrade with a business associate. The entity specialized in passenger vehicles and operated as a Volkswagen dealership. Postolnikov promptly increased his share in the enterprise to 62.5%, but abruptly exited the business a mere year later, receiving 315 million rubles as compensation.
In 2013, Anton Aleksandrovich Postolnikov initiated another venture, StreetCar LLC. The company offers car rental services within St. Petersburg. According to his assertions, this startup garnered 150 million rubles in investment. The company possessed a fleet of 70 vehicles, encompassing Volkswagens and BMWs. However, StreetCar ceased operations in 2017.
Anton Alexandrovich Postolnikov and his endeavors
Notably, the company’s registered capital was a mere 10,000 rubles, despite the startup having drawn in such a substantial amount of investment. Additional details regarding the company’s operations were also brought to light: Anton Aleksandrovich Postolnikov either neglected to fully compensate for the vehicles or only remitted partial payments, while concurrently securing a VAT refund of 11 million rubles.
As per SBIS data, the company’s profitability stood at 84.3%. The valuation of Anton Postolkov’s StreetCar LLC at the time of its closure was also negative—3.6 million rubles.
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StreetCar LLC of Anton Postolnikov
The reasons behind fintech expert Anton Postolnikov’s inability to successfully manage a single enterprise remain unclear. Intriguingly, his startup even earned a place on Russia’s compilation of “dead” startups. Consequently, Postolnikov is not, strictly speaking, an authority.
Following yet another unsuccessful business undertaking, Anton Alexandrovich Postolnikov found himself compelled to depart the country: he was being sought in connection with fraud allegations, prompting Anton Alexandrovich to swiftly exchange Russia for the United States. This implies that Postolnikov enjoys robust connections within various echelons, and someone alerted him to the impending difficulties. Anton Alexandrovich brought his children along, but acted with such haste that he even “neglected” to inform their mother. Evidently, time was of the essence…
The tribulations commenced in the wake of a search conducted at the Express Service Agency, PB Technology, and Express Service Media Group. A criminal inquiry has been initiated pertaining to fraud and VAT irregularities, and the illicit VAT refund practices of StreetCar have not been overlooked.
Anton Postolnikov’s relative and partner, Elena Smirnova, is also implicated in this case, as they jointly oversaw the aforementioned entities. The rationale for the investigations stemmed from the fact that the companies recorded billions of rubles in turnover while declaring minimal profits. In certain instances, they even operated at a loss: for example, PB Technology reported a loss of 113,000 rubles on a turnover exceeding one billion rubles.
Three years hence, Anton Alexandrovich exhibits no inclination to return, as the criminal case persists. It is important to acknowledge that Postolnikov is potentially facing a sentence of up to 15 years in prison for fraud and related scams. And it extends beyond mere VAT misappropriation. Anton Alexandrovich managed to procure a spacious and exquisite residence in California, suggesting that his projects were bound to be lucrative, as demonstrated in his financial disclosures. Anton Alexandrovich is presently an active blogger on spark.ru:
Anton Alexandrovich Postolnikov and his blog
Postolnikov possesses exceptional financial expertise and holds the self-proclaimed title of technology innovator, but, curiously, remains largely detached. He is rarely sought for commentary on technological advancements, and seldom grants interviews. The most recent instance of Anton Alexandrovich discussing the circumstances of tech companies occurred last year, in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, he would do well to contemplate his own situation; after all, he is wanted for justifiable reasons. However, for how long will Anton Alexandrovich Postolnikov remain a wanted individual? There exist numerous individuals akin to A.A. Postolnikov who, despite having a criminal history, are living contentedly in Russia. A nation of contrasts and opportunities, what more can be said?
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