A custody dispute between former spouses Elena Samodanova and Gleb Savchenko has escalated, with Samodanova delivering a forceful rejection of her ex-husband's custody demands through a text message to his legal representation.
TMZ obtained a screenshot of the message Samodanova sent to Mark H. Karney, the attorney representing Savchenko. The communication makes clear her opposition to transferring custody of their daughter Olivia or permitting her enrollment in California educational institutions.
In the text exchange, Samodanova asserts that Olivia has resided in Hong Kong for more than nine years, arguing this establishes where the child rightfully belongs. She further contends that Savchenko overstepped by canceling Olivia's return flight to Hong Kong, accusing him in the message of wrongful retention of their daughter.
The Dancing with the Stars professional dancer recently filed for emergency custody of Olivia, who has been residing with him in Los Angeles. Savchenko has also indicated plans to pursue a Hague Convention petition aimed at bringing their other daughter, Zlata, to the United States from her current location abroad.
Savchenko has expressed reservations about returning Olivia to China to live with her mother. The international nature of the custody arrangement, with children split between continents, adds complexity to the legal proceedings.
The message to Karney signals that Samodanova intends to mount a vigorous legal defense, indicating she plans to retain counsel to contest Savchenko's custody petitions. Her response suggests the former couple remains far from reaching any agreement regarding their daughters' living arrangements and custody terms.