YouTuber Vitaly posts bail after arrest for pranks in the Philippines, returned to immigration custody
Russian-American YouTuber Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, known for his controversial prank content, has posted bail after being arrested in Pasay City for harassing Filipinos.
Despite being granted temporary liberty by the Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 153 on June 18, he remains under the custody of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) due to a pending deportation case.
Photo: BI
Zdorovetskiy, who faced charges of unjust vexation and other offences, was previously held by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology from June 11. After the court allowed him to post bail, he was transferred back to the BI facility at Camp Bagong Diwa.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado confirmed that the vlogger will not be allowed to move freely and will remain in detention. “He will not be allowed to roam around as he is already seen as an undesirable alien,” Viado stated. Although Zdorovetskiy filed for temporary liberty, promising to stay within Metro Manila and not evade deportation, his request does not exempt him from BI custody.
The vlogger was apprehended on April 2 following multiple public disturbances in Bonifacio Global City. In a now-viral Kick video titled “Vitaly disturbing the peace in the Philippines,” he was seen impersonating a police officer, forcibly filming civilians, mocking a security guard with pop lyrics, and causing minor traffic incidents while driving a tricycle.
Deportation proceedings are on hold until his local legal issues are resolved and any sentence is served.
