Dancing with the Stars star Gleb Savchenko battles custody fight over daughters in US and Hong Kong

Professional dancer Gleb Savchenko, known from "Dancing with the Stars", has filed an emergency custody petition in California seeking sole temporary custody of his 15‑year‑old daughter Olivia. Savchenko alleges his ex‑wife Elena Samodanova kept Olivia and younger sister Zlata in Hong Kong beyond an expected one‑year stay and that she effectively abducted the children by refusing to return them to the United States.

Samodanova denies the accusation, stating that Hong Kong is the girls’ permanent residence and that she is the primary caregiver. She accuses Savchenko of canceling Olivia’s return flight without authorization, calling it an "illegal international retention." The dispute centers on jurisdiction, with Samodanova arguing that California courts lack authority over the children who reside in Hong Kong, where Savchenko also holds permanent‑resident status. A mediation hearing is scheduled before the matter proceeds to a formal court hearing.

The case reflects a high‑profile international family‑law conflict involving a celebrity dancer and his former spouse, with both parties presenting competing legal arguments about the children’s domicile and future schooling.