Gleb Savchenko is asking a judge for parenting safeguards after alleging that his ex-wife, Elena Samodanova, gave their 15-year-old daughter weight-loss medication without appropriate medical oversight.
The Dancing With the Stars dancer made the claim in court papers described by TMZ and Us Weekly on Oct. 13. He said his concerns arose from what his daughter, Olivia, told him.
Samodanova has denied similar accusations. A September report citing the Daily Mail quoted her calling them “just empty words without any proof.” Us Weekly said she had not responded to the latest declaration when its report was published.
The former couple also share a younger daughter, Zlata. They agreed to joint legal and physical custody when their divorce was finalized in October 2021.
He Alleges Body Comments, Silent Treatment and a Removed Bedroom Door
‘DWTS’ pro Gleb Savchenko claims ex-wife forced daughter, 15, to take weight loss pills https://t.co/xbpyF7x6if https://t.co/p95gifjoiS
— Page Six (@PageSix) October 13, 2026
According to Savchenko’s declaration, Olivia described disparaging comments from her mother about her body, weight and appearance. He also alleged that Samodanova subjected the teenager to prolonged periods of silent treatment and removed her bedroom door as punishment.
Savchenko said the alleged medication was provided without the consultation between parents required by their existing orders. He asked for an order prohibiting either parent from exposing the children to conduct harmful to their physical or emotional health.
His present request would leave their primary residence unchanged, rather than seek to move them from their mother’s home in Hong Kong.
He Wants Private Calls and Parenting Time That Cannot Be Cut Short
Savchenko requested direct, private and unmonitored phone or video contact with his daughters three times a week. He also wants neither parent to shorten or interfere with scheduled parenting time without written agreement, according to Page Six.
Living in Los Angeles, he said, means maintaining those relationships depends on substantial visits during school holidays and reliable contact between them. He estimated that flights take 13 to 15 hours each way and that round-trip airfare costs approximately $2,550 per child.
“Short, uncertain or last-minute arrangements do not work for a family separated by an ocean,” he wrote in the documents obtained by Us Weekly. Savchenko offered to advance reasonable airfare and necessary travel expenses to prevent payment disputes from delaying visits, while arguing that he should not bear the costs alone.
The Summer Dispute Centered on Whether Olivia Would Return to Hong Kong
In July, Savchenko sought temporary sole custody of Olivia and permission to enroll her in a California high school. He alleged that a 2023 agreement allowed Samodanova to take the children to Hong Kong for one year, with a return to the United States expected by June 30, 2024.
Samodanova disputed his description of the arrangement. In a declaration obtained by PEOPLE, she said the relocation had been mutually agreed upon and maintained that Hong Kong was the children’s established home. She accused Savchenko of canceling Olivia’s return flight after a visit to California.
During an Aug. 20 hearing, a judge paused the Los Angeles custody proceedings while an international child-return application was addressed, Us Weekly reported. Olivia was not ordered to leave California at that hearing, but the magazine’s October report said she returned to Hong Kong in September following a court order.
The international proceedings involved the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Article 19 specifies that a decision to return a child under the treaty does not itself determine the merits of a custody dispute.
Samodanova Says the Dispute Has Disrupted Their Daughter’s Education
In an Aug. 17 statement to Us Weekly, Samodanova described herself as Olivia’s primary caregiver and said the litigation had interrupted her daughter’s schooling and competitive ballroom dancing.
She emphasized continuity in both areas and acknowledged Savchenko’s importance in their daughter’s life. Samodanova said Olivia loved both parents and should not be required to choose between them. “As her parents, we have a responsibility to put her future ahead of our disagreements,” she said.
The Reported Order Gives Samodanova Final Say on School and Medical Disputes
Page Six also reported that a judge gave Samodanova final decision-making authority when the parents disagree about school enrollment or medical matters. In her own filing, she had accused Savchenko of enrolling Olivia in a California high school without her permission.
The children will continue living with Samodanova, with Savchenko’s parenting time confirmed during winter, spring and summer school breaks. The arrangement also includes an additional week of visitation when he travels to Hong Kong, according to the report. Both parents were ordered not to speak negatively about one another to their children.