Gleb Savchenko is adding new claims to his custody fight with ex-wife Elena Samodanova, as both sides continue to dispute where their teenage daughter should live.
TMZ reported that the Dancing With the Stars pro filed screenshots he says support his emergency custody request.
People reported that Savchenko is seeking temporary sole legal and physical custody of his 15-year-old daughter Olivia.
Savchenko Says the Screenshots Show a Russia Trip
The newer TMZ report centers on screenshots Savchenko filed in court. He claims one image shows Samodanova’s phone location pinging in Moscow, while another allegedly shows a WhatsApp exchange in which she says she arrived in Russia for a family funeral.
Savchenko claims the messages also show their younger daughter, Zlata, was with Samodanova. He says he did not consent to the trip and would have objected because of safety concerns.
The Bigger Dispute Is About Hong Kong
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The custody fight began with Savchenko’s claim that Samodanova moved their daughters to Hong Kong for what was supposed to be a temporary arrangement. People reported that he says she was supposed to return to the U.S. by an agreed-upon date but instead remained in Hong Kong.
In his filing, Savchenko claims Samodanova built a permanent life there, including residency, private school for the children, an engagement and another child with her fiancé. He argues that the situation has forced him to travel internationally to see his daughters.
Savchenko is asking the court for temporary sole legal and physical custody of Olivia, with no visitation for Samodanova pending further court involvement.
Samodanova Denies His Version
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Samodanova has denied wrongdoing and says Hong Kong is Olivia’s permanent home and legal residency. She told TMZ that Savchenko is wrongfully keeping Olivia in California after canceling the teen’s return flight.
She also said Olivia is thriving in Hong Kong, attends a top school and is an elite ballroom dancer. Her position is that Savchenko’s emergency filing is a rushed attempt to bypass the proper legal process.
People reported that Samodanova asked the court to halt temporary orders and grant a continuance so her counsel can present records through what she called the correct legal channels.
The Case Is Still Unresolved
Savchenko is asking the court for temporary sole custody of Olivia, who is currently in California with him. People reported that he claims Olivia does not want to return to Hong Kong and wants to attend school in Los Angeles County.
TMZ reported that Savchenko says he has also filed a Hague Convention petition seeking Zlata’s return. Samodanova, meanwhile, argues that Hong Kong has jurisdiction over the custody dispute.
The exes have been ordered to attend mediation on Aug. 5, with a formal hearing expected after that.