vitaly zdorovetskiy
Vitaly Zdorovetskiy Rejected By Both Russia and US – Left To Face Up To One Year in Philippine Jail
According to reports, Vitaly was detained in 2016 for scaling the Hollywood sign and arrested again in 2020 in Egypt after illegally climbing one of the Pyramids of Giza.
Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, a well-known Russian-American content creator notorious for pulling aggressive public stunts, is now facing the possibility of a year in a Philippine jail after being denied deportation by both his home countries.
The 33-year-old YouTuber was arrested in April following a series of disruptive acts in Metro Manila, which were captured in a video which went viral, drawing public condemnation.
Authorities initially had considered sending him back, but with no nation willing to receive him—neither Russia, where he was born, nor the US, where he holds permanent residency—the Philippines has confirmed it will proceed with prosecution and potential imprisonment.
'We don't know where to send him home to,' Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla told the media. 'We will service his sentence. Sinigurado ko po 'yun.'
According to reports, Zdorovetskiy is set to face trial next week on three counts of unjust vexation, a charge under Philippine law applied to acts that cause irritation or emotional disturbance to others.
Zdorovetskiy's Public 'Pranks' Cross a Line
Zdorovetskiy's arrest stems from a video he filmed in Bonifacio Global City and Pasay, where he carried out a series of so-called 'pranks' that many viewers — and local authorities — saw as harassment. In the footage, he is seen yanking a security guard's hat, mocking passers-by, and filming people without consent.
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The video, posted to the streaming platform Kick, quickly drew public outrage, and days later, on April 2nd, Zdorovetskiy was arrested outside a hotel in Pasay by immigration agents.
Rejected By Both the US and Russia
According to reports, the idea of deporting Zdorovetskiy was initially floated, but both Moscow and Washington, DC have made it clear they won't be taking Zdorovetskiy back.
Russia reportedly refused to repatriate him, and despite being a green card holder, the US did the same. Now, with no repatriation path available, Remulla said the government would allow the case to run its course.
However, the YouTuber has appealed to have the charges dropped, citing mental health concerns, but officials have opted to continue with the legal process. Reports indicated that if convicted, Zdorovetskiy faces a minimum of three months and a maximum of one year in jail.
Past Legal Troubles
Although Zdorovetskiy has long built his brand on public stunts and extreme behaviour, his way of making content has led to legal trouble for him more than once.
According to reports, he was detained in 2016 for scaling the Hollywood sign and arrested again in 2020 in Egypt after illegally climbing one of the Pyramids of Giza. And it doesn't end there; that same year, he was charged in Florida for allegedly assaulting a woman jogging.
However, these over-the-top public behaviours didn't stop his rise to popularity as channel VitalyzdTv boasted over 10 million subscribers. However, as viewership waned, he shifted to more aggressive and outrageous content—often blurring the line between comedy and criminality.
Legal Issues and Recent Arrests
Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, a Russian-American YouTuber and Kick streamer, has recently faced significant legal issues, most notably stemming from a controversial series of livestreamed pranks in the Philippines in April 2025.
He was arrested in Bonifacio Global City, Metro Manila, after engaging in disruptive behavior that included harassing pedestrians, stealing from security personnel and businesses, trespassing into a McDonald's kitchen, and riding on top of a moving jeepney—all of which were broadcast live. These actions led to multiple criminal charges, including unjust vexation, theft, attempted theft, alarm and scandal, and violations of the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
Zdorovetskiy is currently detained at the Bureau of Immigration Bicutan Detention Center, with deportation proceedings temporarily halted until his legal cases are resolved. In addition to his troubles in the Philippines, he is also being sued in the United States by screenwriter C. Jay Cox, who alleges that Zdorovetskiy falsely implicated him during a “predator-hunting” livestream.
Cox maintains the interaction was consensual and claims to possess evidence supporting his innocence. These incidents have drawn widespread criticism and sparked debate about ethical boundaries in online content creation. Moreover, reports suggest that Russian officials have distanced themselves from Zdorovetskiy due to the international backlash surrounding his conduct.
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