Viktoria Nasyrova: NYC dominatrix gets 21 years in prison for attempting to kill doppelganger friend with poisoned cheesecake
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Viktoria Nasyrova, 47, a woman from New York City, was sentenced to 21 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, for attempting to kill her lookalike friend Olga Tsvyk with a piece of poisoned cheesecake in 2016. The Russian-born dominatrix was also accused of stealing Tsvyk’s identity and property. Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder called Nasyrova “an extremely dangerous woman” and said her murder plot was “diabolical” before handing down the punishment, the New York Post reported.
Queens Assistant District Attorney Konstantinos Litourgis told the judge that Nasyrova planned Tsvyk’s murder ahead of time and never showed regret over her actions. “The circumstances that were shown at trial demonstrate that the defendant had an unthinkable type of premeditation with this. She never cared for her victim and she also never have any remorse for what she did,” Litourgis said, as per the publication. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz added, “A ruthless and calculating con artist is going to prison for a long time for trying to murder her way to personal profit and gain. Thankfully, the victim survived the attack on her life and we were able to deliver justice to her.” Following the sentencing, an unrepentant Nasyrova yelled “F*** you!” toward the judge before being escorted out of the courtroom, the outlet noted.
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‘It was easy for her to kill’
Before Nasyrova’s sentencing, Tsvyk, her former friend, took the stand to present the victim impact statement. The 35-year-old opened up about her near-death experience and said, “God gave me life when Viktoria Nasyrova tried to end my life. For her, it was an easy thing to try and take the life of another person.”
She continued, “It was easy thing to gain the trust of another person and then take everything from that person. It was easy for her to steal. It was easy for her to kill.” Tsvyk also shared that she was unable to sleep for months, terrified to go to work and distrustful of people following the incident.
The victim said she was also in constant fear that Nasyrova “would come back and finish what she started.” “I would spend hours crying myself to sleep, thinking about what happened to me,” Tsvyk added.
Viktoria Nasyrova gave Olga Tsvyk a tranquilizer-laced cheesecake
On August 28, 2016, Nasyrova visited Tsvyk, an eyelash stylist, in her Forest Hills home for an emergency touch-up and brought her cheesecake from a popular bakery. As per legal documents, Tsvyk resembled Nasyrova by appearance. Both women had dark hair, similar physical traits, and the same complexion. The two could also speak Russian.
During the trial, Tsyvk said, “She told me, ‘I’m right now in Brooklyn. I want to bring you some famous cheesecake from a famous bakery.’ I told her, Viktoria, that’s not needed, just come over,’” Fox News reported. She shared that Nasyrova ate two slices of cheesecake immediately after her arrival before offering her a third slice.
Prosecutors claimed the third slice was laced with Russian tranquilizer Phenazepan, which resulted in Tsvyk falling sick and passing out about 20 minutes after eating the cake. The victim told investigators that the last memory she had before losing consciousness was Nasyrova walking around her room. The following day, Tsvyk was found unconscious in her bed with scattered pills surrounding her body.
After returning home from the hospital in the wake of her treatment, Tsvyk noticed that her employment authorization card and passport were missing along with a gold ring and other valuables. During the investigation, Homeland Security agents found Phenazepam residue in the desert container which contained the cheesecake. Investigators later found Nasyrova’s DNA on the cheesecake box, proving that she attempted to kill Tsvyk.
Litourgis told jurors that Nasyrova was methodical in her plan and wanted to make the scene look like a suicide attempt by scattering pills around Tsvyk’s body. However, her DNA was left behind in the cheesecake box, confirming her real intention. In February, a jury convicted Nasyrova of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted assault, second-degree assault, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, and petit larceny.
Viktoria Nasyrova's disturbing past
During her trial, it was revealed that Nasyrova had a disturbing past which prompted Russian authorities to issue a Red Notice to Interpol for her arrest. She was reportedly accused of killing and burning the body of a Russian neighbor in 2014 before fleeing to New York City, the New York Post reported.
The woman also had a history of using poison before her attempt to murder Tsvyk. Ruben Borukhov, a 54-year-old man, told jurors that Nasyrova allegedly drugged him during a date. He later discovered his watch was missing and his American Express had $2,600 in unknown charges after gaining consciousness.
Nasyrova’s defense attorney Jose Nieves asked Judge Holder for leniency, and noted that the former has a young son with a “debilitating disease,” and needs a bone marrow transplant. “She hadn’t seen him in eight years. She still hopes to reunite with him before this illness ends his life,” the lawyer said. He also asked the judge to consider Nasyrova’s life and history, saying she struggled with mental health issues but never received the proper treatment.
After her sentencing, Nieves told the New York Post that while Nasyrova’s sentence was not maximum, he thinks it was “excessive” and said he is planning to appeal.