Dancing with the Stars pro dancer Gleb Savchenko has reportedly filed a request for an emergency child custody order, taking issue with his ex-wife Elena Samodanova relocating their two daughters to Hong Kong.
Gleb Savchenko Files for Emergency Child Custody Order
According to People, court documents show that Gleb Savchenko recently requested temporary sole legal and physical custody of his 15-year-old daughter Olivia, whom he shares with his ex-wife Elena Samodanova.
Samodanova relocated Olivia and the former couple’s 8-year-old daughter Zlata to Hong Kong in 2023, with Savchenko claiming this was supposed to be a temporary move. However, he says she “refused to return” to the United States by the date they agreed upon.
“Elena has essentially established her life with her fiancé and our children, in Hong Kong, without my permission that they remain with her in Hong Kong,” Savchenko claims. “This has functionally forced me to travel to Hong Kong each year to visit the children, which I have consistently done despite Elena’s efforts taken to drastically limit my access to our daughters.”
The dancer also claims that his daughter Olivia, who is currently with him in the U.S., does not wish to live in Hong Kong with her mother, saying, “Olivia does not want to be in the position of having to confront her mother considering Elena’s recent abusive comments to our daughter, including that she is a ‘disgrace’ to the family and other disparaging comments.”
SHOP TALENT RECAP MERCH:
Savchenko’s Ex-Wife Denies His Claims
Earlier this week, Elena Samodanova shared a statement to TMZ denying her ex-husband Gleb Savchenko’s claims, saying, “As Olivia’s primary caregiver, I have raised her every day while Gleb worked full-time on DWTS. Today, Olivia thrives in Hong Kong. She attends a top school and is an elite ballroom dancer.”
“Hong Kong is Olivia’s permanent home and legal residency,” the statement continues. “Ironically, Gleb himself holds a Permanent Resident card there. Olivia was scheduled to return to Hong Kong on June 5th, but her father wrongfully canceled her ticket without my permission. This is a wrongful international retention.”
Savchenko and Samodanova have reportedly been ordered to attend a custody mediation on August 5, with a formal court hearing later that same month.
SHOP TALENT RECAP MERCH:
What do you think about Gleb Savchenko’s custody situation with his ex-wife? Let us know in the comments below.
