Former Dancing With the Stars professional Gleb Savchenko has made a series of serious allegations against his ex-wife, Elena Samodanova, accusing her of causing psychological harm to their eldest daughter. The claims came as he sought temporary sole custody, a request that was ultimately denied.
Savchenko, 43, filed a request in mid-July to modify the couple’s custody agreement. In the filing, he alleged that Samodanova had “abducted” their children and kept them in Hong Kong for two years without his permission.
He also accused Samodanova, 41, of the “wrongful retention” of their daughters, Olivia, 15, and Zlata, nine. Savchenko further claimed that his ex-wife, whom he described as “controlling,” had taken the girls to Russia without his consent.
Samodanova rejected those accusations. She, in turn, alleged that Savchenko wrongfully kept Olivia in the United States after purportedly canceling the teenager’s return ticket to Hong Kong in July.
Now, fewer than two months after Savchenko sought a temporary emergency order allowing Olivia to live with him in Los Angeles, Samodanova has launched a separate legal action against her former husband.
Court documents obtained by Our News Outlet show that the Russian dancer filed a petition in Los Angeles on September 1 seeking Olivia’s immediate return to Hong Kong under the 1980 Hague Convention, an international treaty implemented in the United States through the International Child Abduction Remedies Act.
Former DWTS professional Gleb Savchenko and his ex-wife Elena Samodanova are embroiled in a custody dispute over their 15-year-old daughter, Olivia, after she traveled from Hong Kong to Los Angeles
The 43-year-old dancer sought temporary sole custody of Olivia, pictured, in July. However, court documents obtained by Our News Outlet show that Samodanova responded with a new lawsuit
Samodanova alleged that Savchenko was the one responsible for “wrongful retention,” claiming Olivia failed to return to Hong Kong after visiting her father in Los Angeles on July 9.
The DWTS alum, whose divorce from Samodanova was finalized in 2021, also allegedly tried to enroll Olivia in a Los Angeles school without obtaining his ex-wife’s consent.
According to court records, Savchenko answered Samodanova’s lawsuit on September 11 and opposed sending Olivia back to Hong Kong.
He argued that returning Olivia to her mother overseas “would expose her to a grave risk of physical and psychological harm and would place her in an intolerable situation,” citing what he described as a well-documented pattern of conduct by Samodanova.
Savchenko listed several allegations in the filing, claiming Samodanova pressured or forced Olivia to take weight-loss medication and made “degrading comments” about her body and weight. He also alleged that she pushed Olivia to train and work until she was exhausted, kept money the teenager had earned, and removed the door to her bedroom. He claimed Olivia subsequently turned to “nightly alcohol and drug use to cope.”
He specified that the alleged use of “amphetamines/weight-loss medication” was connected to maintaining Olivia’s weight for dance and occurred “without medical oversight or parental consultation.”
Savchenko further claimed that Olivia had been subjected to derogatory remarks about her appearance, including allegedly being called “fat” and a “disgrace” to the family. He also alleged that she was pushed to train, dance, and work as a performer to the point of exhaustion, including when she was physically unwell.
He claimed the 15-year-old began drinking alcohol nightly and using drugs to cope with and escape the conditions at her mother’s home. Savchenko also alleged that Olivia was experiencing severe depression and anxiety.
Samodanova moved to Hong Kong in 2023 to pursue dancing opportunities for herself and her daughters. A parenting agreement was established between her and Savchenko at the time, pictured with Olivia and Zlata
In his latest allegations, Savchenko accused his former wife of forcing weight-loss medication on their eldest daughter and making derogatory remarks about her, claims Samodanova has denied
Court documents obtained by Our News Outlet include text messages between Samodanova and Olivia concerning what Savchenko allegedly told the teenager
Savchenko concluded that sending Olivia back to Hong Kong would present “potential risks.”
Samodanova slammed the claims, telling Our News Outlet that ‘all was not true’ and that the accusations were ‘just empty words without any proof.’
In her declaration filed on September 14 and obtained by Our News Outlet, Samodanova included text messages between her and 15-year-old Olivia.
As seen in the text exchange, Olivia texted her mother and claimed that her father was forcing her to make certain statements or he wouldn’t give her a laptop, phone or pay for her schooling.
‘Her father told her she would be betraying him and taking my side while he takes care of her, feeds her, and gives her money,’ Samodanova wrote, adding that Savchenko told Olivia that ‘she could go any time but that he would not spend money on her, including for a flight home.’
There is also a photo of Olivia crying in a selfie she had sent her mom, in which she wrote, ‘Papa said I can go anytime but he is not spending any more money on me or anything even flight home.’
Samodanova, who is now engaged to Vlad Kvartin, 31, with whom she has a child, wrote: ‘During that exchange Olivia also sent me a photograph of herself in which she is visibly crying.’
A hearing took place on September 15, with Olivia’s mother flying from Hong Kong to appear in person in court in Los Angeles, where she faced Savchenko, who was also in attendance.
Savchenko and Samodanova have been divorced since 2021. They were married for 14 years before they split in 2020 (pictured together in 2019)
In the hearing minutes, obtained by Our News Outlet, the court determined that Olivia’s habitual residence would be in Hong Kong.
The exes were also ordered to attend mediation with Family Court Services.
Following the hearing, Olivia returned to Hong Kong with her mother.
In a statement, Samodanova told Our News Outlet: ‘Olivia is back home and safe now. The judge ordered Olivia’s immediate return home. I bought her ticket right away, and we flew out of LA that same night on the 15th.
‘After 10 weeks of wrongful retention and immense abuse, the toll on her is clear.’
She continued: ‘She broke down crying the moment we landed in Hong Kong. But now, step by step, she is recovering.
Savchenko was partnered with Hilaria Baldwin on season 34 of DWTS, but has not been asked to return to the ballroom in season 35, which premiered on September 15
Savchenko’s request for temporary sole custody was denied during a September 15 hearing and his daughter Olivia returned to Hong Kong with her mother (pictured in March 2026)
Samodanova told Our News Outlet: ‘She broke down crying the moment we landed in Hong Kong. But now, step by step, she is recovering’
‘Our daughter went to visit her father for just one week. Instead of returning her, he canceled her ticket and used this painful situation for his own self-promotion. Olivia always wanted to return home to her mother, her sisters, her friends and her dance career.’
Another hearing is scheduled to take place on October 1, which Samodanova tells Our News Outlet will address a ‘refund of my expenses and custody modification.’
Samodanova and Savchenko announced their separation in November 2020 after 14 years of marriage.
When they divorced, they agreed to share joint legal and physical custody of their daughters. However, Samodanova moved to Hong Kong in 2023 to pursue her dancing career and to continue her daughters’ dance education abroad.
Savchenko, who was not asked to return for the new season of Dancing With the Stars, went public with his girlfriend, OnlyFans model Kaitlin Trujillo, earlier this year.
Our News Outlet has contacted Savchenko’s attorney for comment.
