In a sensational legal development that has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Gleb Savchenko has filed an exigent emergency child custody order, alleging his ex-wife Elena Samodanova wrongfully retained their daughters in Hong Kong and effectively abducted them from the United States.

The Urgent Court Filing

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE and USA TODAY on July 15, 2026, the 42-year-old Russian dancer requested temporary sole legal and physical custody of his 15-year-old daughter Olivia, citing exigent circumstances that necessitate immediate judicial intervention people.com www.usatoday.com .

The filing reveals a heart-wrenching international custody battle that has spanned continents and years. Savchenko and Samodanova, 43, were married for 14 years before their split in 2020, sharing two daughters: Olivia, now 15, and Zlata, 8 www.usatoday.com .

The Alleged Agreement and Subsequent Non-Compliance

According to Savchenko's July 14 court filing, the parties allegedly signed an agreement in 2023 permitting Samodanova and the children to temporarily relocate to Hong Kong for one year, with the explicit understanding they would return to the United States by June 30, 2024 www.usatoday.com .

However, the dancer claims that deadline came and went without their return. Instead, Savchenko alleges Samodanova has "obtained permanent Hong Kong residency, enrolled the children in an expensive private school, got the children a cat, became engaged, and had another child with her fiancé" www.usatoday.com .

Olivia's Unequivocal Position

The court documents contain particularly poignant details about 15-year-old Olivia's current situation. Savchenko states that his eldest daughter is currently visiting him in Los Angeles and "does not want to return to Hong Kong or to her mother's care" www.usatoday.com .

In the filing, Savchenko requested that Olivia be appointed a lawyer "to advocate and prevent her from suffering further harm and abuse committed by her mother" www.usatoday.com . He further alleged that Olivia "does not want to be in the position of having to confront her mother considering Elena's recent abusive comments to our daughter, including that she is a 'disgrace' to the family and other disparaging comments" people.com .

"Olivia has expressed unequivocally, that she does not want to return to Hong Kong nor has any desire to live with her mother," Savchenko claimed in the filing people.com .

Allegations of Secret Travel and Threats

The situation appears to have deteriorated significantly over time. Savchenko indicates that Samodanova has "secretly" taken the children to Russia and Vietnam without notifying him www.usatoday.com .

Most alarmingly, he claims she "recently threatened to take the children to Moscow, where they will 'never see their father again'" www.usatoday.com . This allegation forms a critical part of his emergency custody request.

The Hague Treaty Petition

For 8-year-old Zlata, who remains in Hong Kong, Savchenko has filed a petition under the international Hague treaty for the return of wrongfully removed or retained children www.usatoday.com .

The filing alleges that Samodanova "created a self-imposed rule that Zlata would not be allowed to travel to the United States or visit me in California, until she turns 16" www.usatoday.com . This restriction has effectively prevented father-daughter contact for the younger child.

Samodanova's Vehement Denial

In a statement to TMZ, Samodanova categorically denied Savchenko's allegations, presenting a markedly different narrative people.com .

"The statement from Mr. Savchenko's attorney misrepresents our family's reality," she stated. "As Olivia's primary caregiver, I have raised her every day while Gleb worked full-time on DWTS" people.com .

Samodanova insisted that Hong Kong is their permanent home and accused Savchenko of wrongful retention, claiming he canceled Olivia's flight to China people.com . She emphasized: "Today, Olivia thrives in Hong Kong. She attends a top school and is an elite ballroom dancer" people.com .

Social Media Tells a Different Story

Both parties have maintained active social media presences that reveal glimpses of their relationship with the children. Savchenko's Instagram shows a poignant post about a last-minute flight to Hong Kong "just to be with my girls" people.com .

"Last minute flight to Hong Kong, just for a few days, just to be with them and honestly, there's no better way to welcome a new year," he wrote. "Holding them, laughing with them, spending real quality time together... this has been the greatest gift anyone could ever give me" people.com .

Samodanova's Instagram, meanwhile, features posts showing the girls "thriving" in Hong Kong, including one captioned: "Surrounded by the joyous rhythm of two dancing daughters, I find myself the luckiest mom on the dance floor" people.com .

The Divorce Background

Savchenko and Samodanova, both professional dancers, met and fell in love in the competitive world of ballroom dancing. Their 14-year marriage ended in 2020, though court documents suggest the final divorce was not completed until 2023 people.com www.usatoday.com .

Savchenko has been a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars for 20 years, entering his 34th season with the show. The Russian dancer has become one of the most recognizable faces on the ABC competition series www.usatoday.com .

What Happens Next?

The emergency custody filing requests that Samodanova have "no visitation until further court involvement" people.com . Savchenko is asking for Olivia to be permitted to attend school in Los Angeles County under his care people.com .

Representatives for both Savchenko and Samodanova did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment beyond Samodanova's statement to TMZ people.com .

The case now moves forward in Los Angeles County court, where a judge will determine whether the exigent circumstances warrant the emergency relief requested. The outcome could have significant implications for international custody arrangements and the enforcement of parental agreements across borders.

This is a developing story. The legal proceedings are ongoing, and both parties have the opportunity to present evidence and arguments before the court makes a determination on the emergency custody request.

Related Topics:

#Celebrity News#Breaking News#Gleb Savchenko#Elena Samodanova#Dancing with the Stars#DWTS#child custody#Hong Kong#emergency custody#family law
natalie
natalieStaff Writer

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