Gleb Savchenko has asked a Los Angeles court for an emergency custody order involving his daughter Olivia, according to court documents obtained by E! News.
In the July 13 filing, the Dancing With the Stars pro accused his ex-wife, Elena Samodanova, of keeping their children in Hong Kong since 2023. Savchenko said a June 2023 post-judgment agreement allowed their daughters to live there temporarily for one year.
Savchenko claimed Olivia and her younger sister, Zlata, were supposed to return to the United States by June 2024. He said Samodanova instead stayed in Hong Kong, gained permanent residency, enrolled the children in private school, became engaged, and had another child with her fiancé.
According to the filing, Savchenko is asking for temporary emergency sole legal and physical custody of Olivia and wants Samodanova barred from removing her from California. He said Olivia wants to stay with him in Los Angeles and attend Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks.
Samodanova rejected his allegations in a statement to TMZ, saying Hong Kong is Olivia’s home and that she is the child’s primary caregiver. She also said Savchenko’s filing misrepresents their family situation and asked the court to let the case proceed through the proper legal channels.
