Gleb Savchenko has achieved a small win in his ongoing custody battle with his ex-wife, Elena Samodanova, according to Us.
During a virtual court hearing on Thursday, August 20, both Savchenko, 42, and Samodanova, 41, were present when the judge decided to “stay” the case. As a result, their 15-year-old daughter Olivia will remain in Los Angeles for the time being, rather than relocating to Hong Kong, where her mother lives.
According to the judge, Samodanova filed a Hague application over child abduction allegations that need resolution before the custody proceedings in L.A. can progress. The judge also noted that Olivia was not accepted into the California school Savchenko attempted to enroll her in and suggested the parents explore the possibility of Olivia attending virtual classes for the Hong Kong school they previously agreed upon while she stays in L.A.
Samodanova asked the judge to mandate daily calls from Olivia to her, but the judge could not make a decision on this. Their next court date is set for November 3, unless Samodanova provides evidence that her Hague case has advanced.
“This is no longer simply a custody dispute. My daughter’s wrongful retention is now the subject of active Hague Convention proceedings, and the Los Angeles custody case has been stayed while that process moves forward,” Samodanova exclusively told Us following the hearing. “Olivia’s safety, stability and future come first. I will continue through every legal channel available to bring my daughter safely home.”
In response, Savchenko told Us: “My daughter’s safety, stability and well-being are my absolute priority. Olivia is safe, supported and surrounded by people who love and care for her. Most importantly, she is nearly 16 years old and has expressed her own wishes regarding where she wants to live. I respect that there are ongoing legal proceedings, and I intend to address those matters through the appropriate legal channels rather than litigating our family situation publicly.”
He added, “My focus remains on supporting Olivia, protecting her well-being, and ensuring that her own voice and wishes are heard through the appropriate legal process.”
Savchenko and Samodanova, who also share 8-year-old daughter Zlata, initially appeared in court on Tuesday, August 18, before the hearing was postponed until later that week.
“I feel frustrated, but I feel good because the truth always wins,” Savchenko exclusively told Us outside the courthouse. “Hopefully, in a couple of days, we can figure it out and Olivia can go to school and be happy and live with me and visit her sister and her sister can come here and we can all live a good happy life with no problems.”
He added, “I just want to save my kid, you know, that’s all.”
Savchenko filed for sole custody of Olivia in July, asking the court for permission to enroll his eldest child in high school in Los Angeles. Samodanova subsequently asked for primary custody of Olivia, claiming that her ex-husband unexpectedly canceled Olivia’s flight home to Hong Kong without warning. (Samodanova and her partner, Vlad Kvartin, are based in Hong Kong, where Olivia and Zlata are enrolled in school. Samodanova and Kvartin also welcomed their daughter, Victoria, in December 2025.)
Dancing With the Stars pro Gleb Savchenko has fired back after his ex-wife, Elena Samodanova, sought legal help to locate him and their 15-year-old daughter in L.A. Samodanova, 41, filed a declaration with a California Superior Court judge on Friday, August 7, seeking to have her and Savchenko‘s 15-year-old daughter Olivia returned to China, according […]
Samodanova claimed that Olivia was thriving at her international school and in her amateur ballroom dance career.
“My heart is broken by what is happening. My concern is not about winning a public argument. It is about protecting my daughter’s well-being, stability, education and future,” Samodanova told Us in a Monday, August 17, statement. “Olivia loves both of her parents deeply, and her father is an important part of her life.”
She continued, “I respect that relationship and always will. But loving both parents should never require a child to be placed in the middle of a legal or public battle. As her parents, we have a responsibility to put her future ahead of our disagreements.”
Samodanova had filed an emergency court order on August 11, asking for Olivia “to be returned” to her care and claiming that she had no idea where her daughter was presently located. Savchenko vehemently opposed the choreographer’s motion, alleging that Olivia didn’t want to frequently communicate with her mother.
“Elena knows where I live and where Olivia is located. Olivia and Elena have spoken several times since Olivia decided she wants to remain in California and live with me,” Savchenko wrote in a court declaration. “The issue is that Elena is very cruel to Olivia, which has caused Olivia to communicate with her mother, much less than perhaps Elena would like.”
Samodanova and Savchenko were married for 14 years and welcomed two daughters before calling it quits in November 2020. (The former couple, who wed in July 2006, finalized their divorce in October 2021.)
