Elena Samodanova Custody Case: Scandals And Controversies

Tracking the contentious international custody battle between professional dancers Elena Samodanova and Gleb Savchenko over their daughters Olivia and Zlata following the former couple’s divorce. [US WEEKLY]

Savchenko Accused Samodanova Of Wrongfully Keeping Their Daughters In Hong Kong. In a July 2026 emergency custody filing, Savchenko alleged that a June 2023 post-judgment agreement allowed Samodanova to move their daughters to Hong Kong temporarily for one year, with a planned return to the United States by June 30, 2024. He claimed Samodanova instead remained in Hong Kong, obtained permanent residency, enrolled the children in school and established a new life there. Samodanova denied that she abducted the children and maintained that Hong Kong is their legal home. [PEOPLE]

Savchenko Sought Emergency Sole Custody Of Olivia. Savchenko asked a Los Angeles court for temporary sole legal and physical custody of their teenage daughter Olivia and permission to enroll her in a California high school. He said Olivia wanted to remain with him in Los Angeles and argued that sending her back to Hong Kong risked another international wrongful retention dispute. [E! NEWS]

Savchenko Accused Samodanova Of Making Abusive Comments To Their Daughter. In his custody declaration, Savchenko alleged that Olivia did not want to return to her mother after Samodanova made disparaging comments to the teenager, including allegedly calling her a “disgrace” to the family. The allegations were part of his argument that Olivia should be permitted to remain with him in California. [TMZ]

Savchenko Accused Samodanova Of Taking Their Younger Daughter To Russia Without His Permission. Savchenko alleged that Samodanova traveled to Moscow with their younger daughter Zlata without notifying him or receiving his consent. Court filings included screenshots that he said showed Samodanova’s location in Moscow and messages indicating Zlata was with her. Savchenko said he filed a Hague Convention petition seeking Zlata’s return. [TMZ]

Savchenko Accused Samodanova Of Trying To Alienate Their Children From Him. Savchenko alleged in court papers that Samodanova was attempting to diminish his role as their daughters’ father in favor of her fiancé, fellow dancer Vlad Kvartin. Among his complaints was an Instagram post referring to Kvartin as a father who had “stepped up,” as well as an alleged change to Zlata’s social-media handle removing Savchenko’s surname. Samodanova declined to litigate the allegations publicly, saying the evidence should be addressed by the court. [TMZ]

Samodanova Accused Savchenko Of Wrongfully Keeping Olivia In California. Samodanova rejected Savchenko’s version of events and accused him of committing a wrongful international retention himself by canceling Olivia’s planned flight back to Hong Kong. She argued that California lacked jurisdiction because Hong Kong was Olivia’s permanent home and legal residence and asked the court to stop temporary orders while her attorneys presented residency records. [TMZ]

Samodanova Accused Savchenko Of Failing To Pay Child Support For 10 Months. In a court filing responding to Savchenko’s custody request, Samodanova alleged that he had gone approximately 10 months without paying child support and said she had turned to child-support authorities for assistance. The allegation added a financial dispute to the former couple’s increasingly contentious custody battle. [PEOPLE]

Samodanova Sought Sole Custody And Claimed She Did Not Know Where Olivia Was. In August 2026, Samodanova filed her own emergency request seeking sole legal and physical custody of Olivia and Zlata and asking for Olivia to be returned to her care. She alleged that she did not know where Savchenko and Olivia were staying and said she lacked direct telephone contact with her daughter. [US WEEKLY]

Savchenko Denied Claims That He Was Hiding Olivia From Samodanova. Savchenko’s attorney called Samodanova’s allegations “outright untruths” and asserted that she knew where Savchenko and Olivia were. His court filing further claimed that Olivia had spoken with her mother but had chosen to limit communication because of alleged insults and threats. [US WEEKLY]

The Los Angeles Custody Hearing Ended Without An Immediate Resolution. Savchenko appeared in Los Angeles court on August 18, 2026, for a scheduled hearing concerning Olivia, but the custody matter was postponed without a decision on his request for the teenager to remain with him and attend school in California. The international dispute remained unresolved following the hearing. [US WEEKLY]