Gleb Savchenko’s custody battle with ex-wife Elena Samodanova has taken a dramatic turn. The Dancing with the Stars pro has filed an emergency request in court, alleging their daughters have been wrongfully kept overseas for years.
According to newly filed legal documents, Gleb claims what began as a temporary move to Hong Kong has become permanent without his consent. He is now asking the court to intervene as the dispute over their children intensifies.
Gleb Savchenko says his custody dispute has escalated with serious allegations involving his daughters
According to TMZ, Gleb shares daughters Olivia, 15, and Zlata, 8, with Elena following their divorce. The outlet reported that the former couple reached a post-judgment agreement in 2023. Under the agreement, Elena could temporarily relocate the children to Hong Kong for one year while she worked on a project. They planned for the children to return to the United States by June 30, 2024.
Gleb now alleges that never happened. Instead, he claims Elena has since obtained permanent Hong Kong residency and enrolled the girls in private school. He also alleges she became engaged, welcomed another child with her fiancé, and established a long-term life there without his approval.
In his filing, Gleb claimed the situation has “functionally forced me to travel to Hong Kong each year to visit my children.” He said he has consistently made the trips despite what he described as Elena’s efforts to “drastically limit my access to our daughters.”
The DWTS pro is currently seeking temporary sole legal and physical custody of Olivia. She is reportedly with him in Los Angeles. According to the filing, he believes it is in her best interest to remain in California. He claims she does not want to return to Hong Kong.
Gleb further alleged that Olivia has been subjected to hurtful comments from her mother. According to his claims, Elena recently called the teenager “a disgrace” to the family, among other disparaging remarks. Gleb also expressed concern about sending Olivia back, claiming it could result in what he described as an “international wrongful retention/abduction.”
The filing includes additional allegations that Elena previously took the children to Moscow and Vietnam over his objections. Gleb claimed he opposed travel to Russia because of the ongoing war. He also alleged that the children were transported by bus for 20 hours to a remote village. According to his claims, they did not have access to cell phones.
At this stage, Gleb is not seeking a custody order for Zlata. Court records indicate the former spouses are scheduled to attend mediation on Aug. 5, with a formal custody hearing expected later in the month.
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