Daven Tamayo

Russian-American vlogger ‘smug’ even after arrest for harassing Filipinos: BI

Article (news)

Joselito Malig

Russian-American vlogger arrested for harassing Filipinos

Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy showed “no remorse” after his arrest for allegedly harassing Filipinos in Bonifacio Global City, the Bureau of Immigration said.

Russian-American vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy showed “no remorse” after his arrest for allegedly harassing Filipinos in Bonifacio Global City, the Bureau of Immigration said.

Jamaine Punzalan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S492aIWXqa4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED) </strong>— Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy showed “no remorse” after his arrest for allegedly harassing Filipinos in Bonifacio Global City, the Bureau of Immigration said Thursday. </p><p>“Walang ka-remorse-remorse. Kung makita n’yo po yung pictures saka video, talagang nako, doon sa picture po very smug pa ang itsura niya sa mugshot niya,” said spokesperson Dana Sandoval. </p><p>“Yung video niya po habang binabasahan siya ng Miranda rights, nagki-kiss pa siya, nagpa-flying kiss pa siya sa camera na nakatutok sa kaniya. Parang nae-enjoy niya po yung limelight na dulot ng kaniyang kaguluhan,” she told TeleRadyo Serbisyo. </p><p>Zdorovetskiy was tagged as an undesirable foreign national after allegedly harassing security guards and stealing an industrial fan from a restaurant in Taguig City on Monday morning, March 31.</p><p>“Disruptive na po yung behavior niya, hindi lang nang-aasar. Kinuha niya yung motorcycle ng security guard, mayroong nabangga niya raw yung tricycle. Sinisigawan, minumura niya yung isang senior citizen kasi naka-face mask,” added Sandoval.</p><div>[[PHOTO ALBUM]]</div><p>“Nag-research po kami on the internet, nakita natin talagang gawain niya ito sa iba’t ibang bansa. Hindi ito ang first time na nahuli siya, nakulong siya dahil sa mga disruptive na mga activity,” she said.</p><p>The YouTuber has been transferred to the BI’s detention facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig, while awaiting deportation proceedings.  </p><p>“Kung mayroon po siyang local case dito sa Pilipinas, aandar din po yun kasabay ng deportation case. Kung sakali pong magkaroon siya ng local case at siya po ay hatulan ng pagkakabilanggo dito sa Pilipinas, kailangan muna niya pong hintayin ‘yun…at mabilanggo siya dito sa Pilipinas bago natin ma-implement ang deportation,” noted Sandoval.</p><div><strong>A MENACE IN BORACAY, TOO? </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ntUmqdzDwDI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>A separate <a href="https://www.change.org/p/ban-vitaly-zdorovetskiy-from-all-social-media-for-cyberbullying-in-the-philippines">Change.org petition</a> has accused the vlogger of verbally assaulting a Filipino surfing instructor in Boracay with “vulgar, sexually degrading remarks” during a safety briefing.</p><p>Zdorovetskiy allegedly refused to follow safety rules and later told his followers to “destroy” the surfing business by leaving fake, malicious reviews online, the petition added. </p><p>“Sinabi niya sa followers niya na itong company na ito, dapat mawala na ito,” Malay, Aklan-based surfing instructor Limuel Riterva Jr. said. </p><p>“Sana prank lang, pero ito kasi hindi. Paninira na ng puri yung ginagawa niya and paninira ng trabaho…which is yun lang talaga yung araw-araw na pinagkukuhanan ko ng pangsustena sa pamilya ko,” he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview. </p><p>“Gusto niya pa is humingi raw ako ng pasensya sa kanya, pumunta raw ako sa hotel niya,” he added. </p><div><strong>SEARCH FOR FILIPINO CAMERAMAN </strong></div><p>Meanwhile, investigators are seeking to identify the Filipino cameraman who was with Zdorovetskiy in his BGC vlog, said Taguig police station’s investigation section chief PCapt. Dennis Desalisa. </p><p>“Nakikipag-coordinate kami sa hotel kung saan sila nakatira. Yun ang hinahabol namin ngayon, maihabol [sa kaso] yung Pilipinong kasama ni Vitaly,” he said. </p><p>He said police would file complaints for cybercrime, unjust vexation, and theft against Zdorovetskiy later in the day. </p><p>Desalisa urged other possible complainants to coordinate with the police.</p>

<p>Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy showed “no remorse” after his arrest for allegedly harassing Filipinos in Bonifacio Global City, the Bureau of Immigration said Thursday.</p>

Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy showed “no remorse” after his arrest for allegedly harassing Filipinos in Bonifacio Global City, the Bureau of Immigration said Thursday.

Russian vlogger ‘smug’ even after arrest for harassing Filipinos: BI

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Russian vlogger ‘smug’ even after arrest for harassing Filipinos: BI

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 03, 2025 08:41 AM PHT

|

Updated April 04, 2025 01:20 PM PHT

Read More:

Vitaly Zdorovetskiy

vlogger

BGC

Taguig

Boracay

deportation

immigration

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