Overview
- Olivia traveled to Los Angeles on May 29 and was expected to return to Hong Kong on July 9, but court papers say she did not board the flight home.
- Gleb Savchenko filed an emergency petition in July seeking temporary sole legal and physical custody so Olivia can remain in Los Angeles and enroll in high school there.
- Elena Samodanova filed a declaration in California on Aug. 7–8 saying she cannot locate Olivia, that the girl’s Hong Kong phone was shut off, and that she can only reach her daughter by Instagram messages.
- Samodanova says she submitted a 'request for return of child' to Hong Kong’s Department of Justice, which notified her the case was referred to a California district attorney for processing.
- Savchenko says Olivia is safe and communicating with her mother, and he has moved to strike Samodanova’s objection as untimely; both sides will appear at a Los Angeles hearing on Aug. 18 to resolve custody and jurisdiction.