YOUTUBE vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy is slated for deportation to Russia in the coming weeks, officials announced at a press conference held at the DILG Philippines office in Quezon City on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
The deportation marks the end of a legal process that began with Zdorovetskiy’s arrest in April 2025.
According to Bureau of Immigration Legal Division chief Arvin Cesar Santos, Zdorovetskiy has already served his penalty for the offenses he committed.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified that the deportation is based on Zdorovetskiy’s passport of origin, which is Russian, and not his country of residence, the United States, despite him being a green card holder.
Zdorovetskiy, 34, was arrested for engaging in a series of law-breaking stunts intended as content for his YouTube videos. His actions were widely criticized as disrespectful to Filipinos, leading to his arrest and subsequent legal proceedings. The deportation will effectively bar him from returning to the Philippines.
metrosundaily
