Russian content creator Vitaly Zdorovetskiy was arrested on Wednesday in front of a hotel along Seaside Boulevard in Pasay City following a mission order issued by the Bureau of Immigration, according to Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III.
Zdorovetskiy, known online for his controversial pranks, drew widespread outrage after posting a livestream titled “Vitaly disturbing the peace in the Philippines.” In the video, filmed in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), the 33-year-old YouTuber is seen pulling off disrespectful stunts that many Filipinos found offensive.
Among the antics that triggered public backlash: riding a patrol motorcycle without permission, repeatedly taking a security guard’s cap, making a tasteless joke about robbing a woman, mocking people wearing face masks, and forcibly filming a guard while taunting him with lyrics from Paparazzi by Lady Gaga.
He also stole an electric fan from a restaurant and dragged it into a hotel, drove a tricycle recklessly—sideswiping a pedestrian and bumping into a parked jeepney.
On social media, the response was swift and harsh. One X user called on authorities to “hunt this foreigner down and charge him with every relevant crime.” Another posted clips of the stream, saying, “Vitaly is going insane disturbing the peace in the Philippines.”
Complaints have also surfaced from his previous behavior in Boracay. A business owner claimed Vitaly refused to wear a safety helmet, insulted local staff, fled the scene, and then urged followers to flood their page with fake negative reviews.
An online petition calling for him to be banned from social media for cyberbullying has since circulated.
In a statement, BGC management confirmed they are “actively coordinating with authorities and pursuing legal measures,” reaffirming their commitment to the safety of the community.
Vitaly, who boasts over 10 million subscribers on YouTube, is no stranger to run-ins with the law. His rap sheet includes arrests in the U.S. and Egypt for similar attention-seeking stunts.
