Russian YouTuber Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, who was arrested in April for harassing Filipinos while filming content, is now appealing for the charges against him to be dropped, citing mental health issues and expressing remorse for his actions.
According to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Zdorovetskiy wrote a letter requesting leniency and asking that the case be dismissed.
“He wrote to me saying he is suffering from mental health issues and asking if the charges can be dropped. He apologized,” Remulla revealed in an interview with ’24 Oras’.
Despite the appeal, the Department of the Interior and Local Government confirmed that Zdorovetskiy will go to trial next week for three counts of unjust vexation, based on complaints filed by police officers who were reportedly among his victims.
If found guilty, the controversial vlogger could face up to 18 months in a Philippine prison. Remulla affirmed, “We will service his sentence, sinigurado ko po ‘yun.”
Zdorovetskiy was declared an “undesirable alien” by the Bureau of Immigration after multiple videos surfaced showing him snatching a guard’s cap, attempting to grab a firearm, and staging a fake robbery of a woman in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig.
Although a theft charge filed against him was dismissed, the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office ruled that there is sufficient basis to proceed with the unjust vexation complaints.
Remulla added that Zdorovetskiy’s camp tried to settle privately with the security guards involved, but the guards stood their ground.
“Fortunately, the security guards were strong-willed, they didn’t give in, and we’re pursuing the case,” he said.
In a related issue, a Change.org petition alleged that Zdorovetskiy also verbally harassed a Filipino surf instructor in Boracay, using vulgar and sexually degrading language during a safety briefing.
Zdorovetskiy, who has more than 10 million subscribers on YouTube, is known for his prank videos—often controversial—and has now been compared to American vlogger Johnny Somali, who is currently on trial in South Korea for similar antics.
Regarding his deportation, Remulla clarified that neither Russia nor the United States—where Zdorovetskiy is a green card holder—wants to take him in.
“So we don’t know where to send him,” Remulla said.
As of now, Zdorovetskiy remains detained at the Bureau of Immigration facility, awaiting his court hearing.
