Gleb Savchenko, a professional dancer on 'Dancing With the Stars,' has taken his ex-wife, Elena Samodanova, back to court, alleging she has "abducted" their two daughters and is keeping them in Hong Kong and Russia without his consent. The former couple, who divorced in 2020 after 14 years of marriage, are embroiled in a heated child custody dispute.
In a July 14 court filing, Savchenko, 42, claimed Samodanova, 43, has been "wrongfully retaining" their children in Hong Kong for two years and has also taken them to Russia without his permission. He is seeking temporary sole legal custody of their eldest daughter, Olivia, 15, and is asking that she live with him in Los Angeles while their younger daughter, Zlata, eight, remains in Hong Kong with her mother.
Savchenko alleged that Olivia does not wish to return to Hong Kong or her mother's care and has requested a lawyer to prevent further harm. He expressed concern that Olivia's return to her mother could lead to an international abduction or wrongful retention, particularly to Russia, which is not a signatory to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. This international treaty is designed to protect children from abduction by a parent and facilitate their swift return to their country of habitual residence.
The dancer also claimed Samodanova has threatened to take the children to Moscow, stating they would "never see their father again." He warned of a "serious exigency" and a real risk of further abduction or wrongful retention, especially in non-Hague signatory countries like Russia.
The legal drama intensified after Savchenko learned from Olivia that Samodanova had taken Zlata to Moscow for a funeral without notifying him. Savchenko stated in court documents that he did not consent to this trip and would not have agreed to Zlata accompanying her mother to Russia due to perceived dangers. He accused Samodanova of acting unilaterally regarding their daughters.
Savchenko indicated that he has initiated a Hague Petition for Zlata's return from Hong Kong, while Samodanova has reportedly filed her own Hague Petition claiming Hong Kong has jurisdiction. He described his ex-wife as "incredibly controlling and very demanding."
According to the court filings, Samodanova relocated the children to Hong Kong in 2023 under a one-year agreement. Savchenko argues that she failed to return them to the United States by the agreed-upon date of June 30, 2024. Instead, she obtained permanent residency in Hong Kong, enrolled the children in a private school, acquired a cat, became engaged, and had another child with her fiancé, effectively establishing a life there without his permission.
Mark Karney, Savchenko's attorney, stated that they have invoked the Hague Convention to secure Zlata's return. He emphasized that the goal is for the children to reside in California with their father, where they were supposed to be after Samodanova's year in Hong Kong concluded. A hearing has been set, and the court has ordered mediation for the parents.
Samodanova has denied Savchenko's claims, stating that his attorney's remarks misrepresent their family's reality. She asserted that as Olivia's primary caregiver, she has raised her daughter daily while Savchenko worked full-time. Samodanova contends that Olivia thrives in Hong Kong, attending a top school and excelling in ballroom dancing, and that Savchenko's actions jeopardize her future and education. She maintains that California lacks jurisdiction over Olivia and that Hong Kong is her daughter's permanent home and legal residency, noting that Savchenko also holds a Permanent Resident card there.
Samodanova further alleged that Olivia was scheduled to return to Hong Kong on June 5, but her father "wrongfully canceled her ticket" without her permission, constituting a wrongful international retention. She accused Savchenko's emergency filing of being a rushed attempt to bypass proper legal procedures and requested a continuance to present Olivia's permanent records through appropriate legal channels.
In a previous statement to The Daily Mail in September 2025, Samodanova expressed a desire for Savchenko to be more supportive and present, recalling that their career began in Hong Kong, where their first daughter was born. She stated they moved to the U.S. for Savchenko's career and that she returned to Hong Kong with the children when his work there concluded, as it was her home with family and friends.
The ex-couple is scheduled to attend custody mediation on August 5, with a formal court hearing later that month. In 2020, Samodanova had accused Savchenko of infidelity shortly after their separation, which he denied. Savchenko has since had relationships with blogger Elena Belle and dancer Brooks Nader.