Vitaly Zdorovetskiy Faces Deportation: What We Know Now

(PHILIPPINES) — Philippine immigration officials ordered the deportation of Vitaly Zdorovetskiy after courts in Taguig City cleared the way for his removal following nearly nine months in custody over livestreamed incidents in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) that drew allegations of harassment, theft and public disruption.

Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, the Russian-born YouTuber known as VitalyzdTv, was arrested April 2, 2025, after what authorities described as prank-style conduct broadcast on Kick livestreams in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig City, Metro Manila.

The Bureau of Immigration’s Board of Commissioners issued a deportation order as of January 15, 2026, after the Taguig City Regional Trial Court and Metropolitan Trial Court resolved his cases, with penalties treated as served because of time spent detained.

The case has highlighted how a foreign national can remain confined even after posting bail, when immigration authorities pursue administrative custody for deportation proceedings—an approach that differs from criminal detention and can extend a person’s time behind bars.

Authorities detained Zdorovetskiy after Kick livestreams showed incidents that included stealing a patrol motorcycle and an electric fan from a restaurant, taking a security guard’s cap repeatedly, and threatening to rob an elderly woman.

Other alleged conduct described in the case included recklessly driving a tricycle that injured a rider, jumping onto a moving jeepney’s roof, harassing motorcycle riders, trespassing into a McDonald’s kitchen, and making derogatory comments toward a surfing instructor in Boracay.

Prosecutors filed cases that included three counts of unjust vexation, as well as alarm and scandal and attempted robbery/theft, according to the details described by officials and court actions referenced in the proceedings.

Officials also characterized him as an “undesirable foreign national” and a “flight risk,” labels that can matter in decisions about whether a person remains in custody while cases and immigration actions move forward.

Zdorovetskiy was initially held under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), reflecting the criminal-case track triggered by the allegations tied to his livestreamed actions.

After he posted bail for the criminal cases, he was transferred to Bureau of Immigration (BI) custody at the Bicutan Detention Center in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, as deportation proceedings continued.

That shift meant confinement no longer depended solely on the criminal court process, because immigration custody can continue as an administrative hold while authorities complete deportation steps.

The treatment of detention time also became central once the courts finished with the criminal cases, because time already spent in custody can be credited toward penalties when cases are resolved.

Earlier reporting cited the possibility of up to 18 months imprisonment, with time served credited, while the process unfolded through 2025 and into early 2026.

In May 2025, his legal team sought dismissal of charges from Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, citing mental health, but the request was denied.

The mechanics of custody in such cases can be confusing to the public, particularly when a person is no longer in a criminal jail but remains confined under immigration authority, a dynamic sometimes compared with debates over bond hearings in other systems.

Zdorovetskiy’s case drew attention in part because the alleged acts were broadcast in real time and amplified online, putting pressure on law enforcement and immigration officials to respond quickly and visibly.

By January 15, 2026, the Bureau of Immigration’s Board of Commissioners had issued a deportation order, a procedural step that signaled removal could proceed once remaining requirements were met.

BI Legal Division Chief Arvin Cesar Santos, who was also reported as Alvin Cesar Santos, described the gating items as formal clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation and from courts involved in the cases.

“It is stated in our deportation order that his deportation is subject to clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation and from the courts where he had cases. His cases. have already been resolved, and the penalties imposed there are also considered served.”

Officials described the removal as imminent but contingent, with timing framed as “in the coming weeks” or “within the week” after January 15, 2026, once National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and court clearances were secured.

The logistics described by officials included coordination with Russian authorities and plans to transfer him from Manila to Kalibo, Aklan, followed by a direct flight to Moscow, presented as planning steps rather than a guaranteed departure date.

Such sequencing can be affected by documentation and inter-agency steps, and immigration removals can hinge on a mix of administrative approvals, custody arrangements, and receiving-country coordination—issues that have driven reporting elsewhere on lengthy delays even after deportation orders are issued.

Remulla emphasized that the processing would be tied to Zdorovetskiy’s Russian citizenship and passport, not his U.S. immigration status as a green card holder who resides in the United States.

“He carries a Russian passport, so the deportation will be processed there.”

Zdorovetskiy, born March 8, 1992, is a Russian-born content creator who moved from Russia to the United States in 2006 and built a large following through prank-style videos.

His Philippines arrest fit a pattern of high-profile incidents across multiple jurisdictions referenced in reporting about his career, including a 2016 streaking incident at the NBA Finals and a 2017 field invasion at the World Series.

In 2020, he faced detention in Egypt after a pyramid climb, and that year he also faced a Miami Beach battery charge that included an allegation of tackling a jogger, with a $7,500 bond.

The same reporting described more recent U.S.-based “vigilante” stunts that drew criticism, including a 2024 lawsuit alleging false pedophilia accusations, though the Philippines case centered on conduct alleged to have occurred during livestreams in BGC and other locations.

Public officials in the Philippines treated the case as both a law enforcement matter and a broader warning aimed at foreign visitors whose conduct draws complaints, a posture that aligns with broader public interest in common reasons governments cite when ordering removals.

“Sira ulo rin ito… Hindi naman Pilipino, pwede ko bang murahin?” (roughly, “He’s crazy too. He’s not Filipino, can I curse him?”)

Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. reacted to the arrest with an expletive-laced remark that was widely circulated locally.

Remulla, speaking later in the process, offered a more formal framing as the case moved from criminal court handling toward deportation.

“We have no ill feelings against Vitaly. He has served his time, he has shown his remorse, and he is now a free man when he goes back to Russia.”

“We welcome visitors, but they are expected to follow the same rules,” Remulla added.

Officials’ remarks reflected how authorities can use a high-profile case to signal that public-order offenses and alleged harassment—especially those broadcast widely—will face consequences beyond short-term detention, including immigration action.

Even after courts resolve criminal cases, deportation can require multiple clearances, including NBI and relevant court certifications, before a person can depart, and those steps can delay travel plans despite an issued deportation order.

Immigration enforcement processes also depend on coordination for travel documents, flight arrangements, and receiving-country engagement, factors often discussed in comparisons between escorted removals and self-deportation models elsewhere.

For Zdorovetskiy, officials said coordination with Russian authorities had been completed, while describing a planned route that would move him from Manila to Kalibo, Aklan, before a direct flight to Moscow.

As of January 15, 2026, the deportation order had been issued and the criminal cases had been resolved with penalties deemed served through detention time, leaving clearances and execution logistics as the final hurdles before removal could occur.