Dancing With the Stars pro Gleb Savchenko showed up to court on Tuesday ready to fight for custody of his 15-year-old daughter, Olivia. But instead of hammering out a decision, the hearing got pushed to Thursday. The reason? His ex-wife Elena Samodanova’s internet connection kept cutting out. It’s a modern twist on an age-old problem: family drama interrupted by technology.
Gleb wants Olivia to live with him in Los Angeles and attend school there. His attorney says Olivia has told her mom a dozen times that she wants to be with her dad. Elena, on the other hand, argues that Olivia’s stability, education, and dance career depend on staying in Hong Kong, where Elena has been the primary caregiver. The custody fight has already disrupted Olivia’s IB diploma program and her dance training, and Elena says her only concern is protecting her daughter’s future.
It’s a heartbreaking situation, and it’s happening under the glare of the spotlight. Nobody wants to see a kid caught between two parents who love her, but that’s where Olivia is. Both sides claim they’re doing what’s best. The court will have to sort it out Thursday. What do you think? Should a 15-year-old’s wishes carry more weight in a custody decision, or should parents and courts know better? Let us know in the comments.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
