Gleb Savchenko Accuses Ex-Wife of Abducting Their Kids

Gleb Savchenko, known for his role on Dancing with the Stars, has filed an emergency custody request, claiming his ex-wife Elena Samodanova abducted their daughters and has been keeping them in Hong Kong for over a year, violating their agreement.

According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, the couple shares two daughters, Olivia and Zlata. After their divorce, the girls moved to Hong Kong with their mother, but Savchenko insists it was meant to be temporary. The former spouses agreed the children would return to the U.S. by June 30, 2024, but that never happened.

In his filing, the dancer cites a Post Judgment Agreement signed in 2023, which allowed Elena to temporarily relocate the children to Hong Kong for one year for a work project in the region. However, Gleb claims that after the year was up, Elena refused to send the girls back to America, prompting his legal action.

Samodanova has already responded to her ex-husband's accusations. She denies any abduction, stating that all actions were agreed upon and that Gleb's claims are an attempt to pressure her. According to her, the girls live with her legally, and she has no intention of changing their residence without valid reasons.

Savchenko and Samodanova divorced in 2020 after ten years of marriage. Their split was marred by scandal: Gleb cheated on his wife with a dance partner, which Elena confirmed in interviews. Now the former spouses are embroiled in another legal battle, this time over their children.

Experts note that custody cases involving international relocations are particularly complex. With the children in Hong Kong and the father in the U.S., enforcing a court order could be difficult. Moreover, Hong Kong is not a party to the Hague Convention on child abduction, complicating the return of minors.

Fans of Gleb Savchenko are actively discussing the situation on social media, with opinions split. Some support the dancer, believing he is fighting for his father's rights, while others side with Elena, pointing to her arguments. Gleb has not publicly commented, but his lawyers are pushing for an urgent hearing.

This story could drag on for months given the legal complexities and differences in legislation. For Gleb Savchenko, who continues to work in television and dance projects, this custody battle is becoming the biggest challenge in his personal life.