Gleb Savchenko’s Ex-Wife Denies Abduction Claims, Says Hong Kong Is Home

Elena Samodanova, ex-wife of Dancing with the Stars pro Gleb Savchenko, is fighting back against claims she abducted their daughters and moved them to Hong Kong. She told TMZ that Hong Kong is the girls’ permanent home and accused Gleb of wrongfully retaining their 15-year-old daughter Olivia in California by canceling her return flight.

“The statement from Mr. Savchenko’s attorney misrepresents our family’s reality,” Elena said. She stated that as Olivia’s primary caregiver, she has raised her while Gleb worked full-time on DWTS. She also noted that Olivia “thrives in Hong Kong,” attending a top school and pursuing elite ballroom dance. Elena stressed that “California lacks jurisdiction over our daughter” and that Gleb himself holds a Permanent Resident card in Hong Kong. She added that she is asking the court for a continuance to present Olivia’s records through proper channels.

Gleb filed an emergency custody order earlier this week, claiming Elena had kept their daughters, Olivia, 15, and Zlata, 8, in Hong Kong since 2023. He argued the move was only supposed to last one year and the girls were due back in the U.S. by June 30, 2024. Gleb alleged that Elena has instead “obtained permanent Hong Kong residency, enrolled the children in an expensive private school, got the children a cat, became engaged, and had another child”.

Gleb is currently seeking temporary sole custody of Olivia, who is with him in California and wants to remain there. He is not requesting a custody order for their youngest, 8-year-old Zlata, at this time. A custody mediation is set for August 5, followed by a formal court hearing later that month.