Zaitsev’s children ‘are safe,’ agent says

PHILADELPHIA Ottawa Senators defenceman Nikita Zaitsev was not talking publicly Friday about allegations that he took his daughters from his ex-wife, Margo Gotovtseva, while in Russia last month.

But Zaitsev’s agent, Dan Milstein, says an Instagram post from Gotovtseva — in which she says she doesn’t know where her daughters Vera and Sonia are — is false.

“Nikita’s children are safe and with his parents, at his parents’ home in Moscow, where they normally reside,” Milstein said in a tweet issued Friday. “Nikita’s ex-wife knows where the children are and that they are safe. Law enforcement considers this to be a private matter and we ask that you please respect the family’s privacy.”

Gotovtseva fired back after she was contacted by Postmedia.

The comment from Milstein is “completely false,” she wrote in a followup post, in English.

“I tried to resolve this matter privately and he was not responsive. I was allowing weekend visitations for my kids to see their in-laws, but I never approved of them living with them all the time,” she said. “I have not heard or seen my children in 12 days. No one has contacted me.

“My children were taken from my arms screaming for me to help them!”

Zaitsev was on the ice for the Senators’ practice in Philadelphia on Friday, but the Senators denied Postmedia’s request to speak with him.

The Senators issued a statement later stating the club “will not comment on the private, family matters of our players.

“We have been in contact with the NHL regarding this matter and will work to ensure all proper measures are taken.”

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