Savchenko fights to keep Olivia as court delay looms

Gleb Savchenko, 42, appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday, August 18, to address a custody dispute over his 15‑year‑old daughter Olivia with his ex‑wife Elena Samodanova, 43.

The hearing was postponed until Thursday, August 20 after Samodanova experienced internet connectivity problems that cut the proceedings short.

During the brief session,

Savchenko told reporters he felt “frustrated, but I feel good because the truth always wins and hopefully in a couple of days, we can figure it out and [our daughter] 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,” adding, “I just want to save my kid, you know, that’s all.”

## Background & Context

Savchenko and Samodanova share two daughters: 15‑year‑old Olivia and 9‑year‑old Zlata. Olivia currently resides with her mother in Hong Kong, while Savchenko wants her to move to Los Angeles and attend a local high school. Samodanova argues that Olivia should remain at her present home.

The postponed hearing arose when Samodanova’s internet connection failed during the scheduled session, forcing the judge to delay the decision until the next day. Savchenko’s attorney, Mark Karney, had already testified earlier that morning, expressing optimism that a judge would issue a temporary order after hearing both sides.

Karney noted that “Olivia’s best interests must be addressed… her mother has prevented her from attending school.”

Samodanova countered by claiming she has been Olivia’s primary caregiver since birth and described the dispute as disrupting two of Olivia’s “extremely important parts of life,” including her IB diploma program and competitive dance career.

## What People Are Saying

Savchenko stated that Olivia wants to live with him in California, attend school there, and that she has told his lawyer “a dozen times” that she wishes to do so.

He emphasized that the case is about a child who can decide her own living arrangements, stating, “Some parents… refuse to allow their children to make decisions and want to control every aspect of a child’s life.”

Karney said, “Again, this is a case about a kid who is old enough to decide that she wants to live with her father in California, attend school here and has told her mother this a dozen times.” He added that the dispute involved control over the child’s life and that “some parents… want to control every aspect of a child’s life.”

Samodanova, in an exclusive statement, said, “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.” She added that Olivia’s “highly competitive, world‑class dance career has been abruptly interrupted” and that “Olivia is my daughter, not a headline.”

## What Happens Next

The judge postponed the custody hearing to Thursday, August 20, . Savchenko’s attorney expects a temporary order to be issued after both parties present their arguments.

The court will consider whether Olivia’s preference to live in Los Angeles and attend school there should be honored, balanced against Samodanova’s claim of primary caregiving and the potential impact on Olivia’s education and dance career.

Both parents have expressed that they want a solution that prioritizes the child’s stability and future. The court will need to weigh these factors before making a decision that could affect where Olivia lives and how she continues her schooling and dancing pursuits.

The outcome of the postponed hearing will set the next chapter in this high‑profile family law case, as Savchenko and Samodanova seek to secure a living arrangement that serves their daughter’s best interests.