The Legal Struggle Over Custody
Dancing With the Stars pro Gleb Savchenko recently addressed the complex custody battle with his ex-wife, Elena Samodanova. The situation escalated following the postponement of a scheduled court hearing earlier this week. Savchenko, 42, attended the Los Angeles courtroom alongside his legal counsel, Mark Karney, to discuss the future of his 15-year-old daughter, Olivia.
Conflicting Perspectives on Olivia's Future
The core of the disagreement lies in where the teenager should reside and continue her education. Savchenko stated that his daughter has expressed a clear desire to remain in Los Angeles to attend a local high school. Conversely, Samodanova argues that Olivia should maintain her residency in Hong Kong.
Expressing his frustration after the hearing, Savchenko stated:
«I feel frustrated, but I feel good because the truth always wins and 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. I just want to save my kid, you know, that’s all.»
Arguments from Legal Counsel
Ahead of the hearing, Savchenko's attorney, Mark Karney, emphasized the importance of prioritizing the teenager's own wishes, noting that she is old enough to make informed decisions about her living environment. Karney further alleged that Samodanova has been preventing the teen from attending school, framing the dispute as a matter of parental control versus the child's autonomy.
Samodanova’s Response
Elena Samodanova, 43, has firmly rejected the claims presented by Savchenko's side. In a statement regarding the ongoing legal proceedings, she maintained that her focus is exclusively on the child's long-term stability and educational progress.
Samodanova commented:
«My concern is not about winning a public argument. It is about protecting my daughter’s well-being, stability, education and future. Olivia loves both of her parents deeply, and her father is an important part of her life. 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.»
She further highlighted concerns that the custody dispute has interfered with the start of Olivia’s two-year IB diploma program, asserting that the teenager requires consistency and structure to thrive in her academic and personal pursuits.