MANILA, Philippines — Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, who was arrested on April 3 for harassing several individuals in Metro Manila, will serve his sentence in the Philippines, according to Interior Secretary Benhur “Jonvic” Remulla.
Remulla announced on Sunday, June 1, that deportation is not an option, as neither Russia nor the United States is willing to receive the controversial content creator. Zdorovetskiy is a green card holder in the U.S., but American authorities have refused to take him in.
“Ang problema kasi namin, ang Russia, hindi siya tinatanggap, ang US naman, green card holder siya, hindi rin siya tinatanggap, so hindi namin alam kung saan siya papauwiin eh,” Remulla explained.
(Our problem is, Russia won’t accept him, and the U.S. won’t either, so we don’t know where to send him.)
Zdorovetskiy is set to face trial next week for three counts of unjust vexation, which could land him in jail for up to one year. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has committed to ensuring that he serves his sentence locally.
“We will service his sentence, sinigurado ko po ‘yun,” Remulla assured.
(We will ensure that his sentence is carried out.)
The Russian national gained infamy after videos circulated of him harassing a security guard and an elderly woman in Bonifacio Global City. He was also seen stealing an electric fan from a restaurant, taking a tricycle without permission, and posting false reviews of local establishments. One video even showed him jumping onto a moving jeepney.
Zdorovetskiy’s arrest was carried out in a Pasay City hotel through a mission order from the Bureau of Immigration, which had declared him an “undesirable alien.”
He reportedly wrote to Remulla pleading for the charges to be dropped due to mental health concerns, but the government has decided to move forward with prosecution.
