‘Rats, cockroaches, isolation’: Deported Russian vlogger describes Philippine jail
A Russian vlogger whose prank videos sparked outrage in the Philippines has recounted harsh conditions inside a local jail, saying he endured months alongside rats and cockroaches before being deported after nearly nine months in detention.
Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, better known online as VitalyzdTv, said in a social media post that he spent 290 days in a Philippine jail, including 91 days in complete isolation, in sweltering heat exceeding 35 degrees Celsius.
“They really tried to break me but it built me,” he wrote. “They wanted me gone but I’m here, all glory to GOD!!!”
Vitaly, 33, was deported to Russia on January 17 following a detention that began in April 2025, after his livestreamed pranks in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) — a major business and leisure district in Taguig — triggered public backlash and legal action.
His videos showed him grabbing a security guard’s cap, attempting to seize another guard’s firearm and threatening to rob a woman, incidents prosecutors said amounted to criminal harassment.
Philippine immigration authorities said the Bureau of Immigration’s Board of Commissioners ordered his deportation after three counts of unjust vexation filed against him in Taguig courts were settled.
Another foreign vlogger deported
Vitaly’s case has become a reference point for a broader crackdown on foreign vloggers accused of harassing Filipinos for online content.
This month, authorities arrested 34-year-old Estonian national Siim Roosipuu, who ran a YouTube channel called Pro Life Traveler.
Roosipuu was detained on January 15 in a joint operation involving immigration intelligence officers, police and local officials, and now faces deportation.
Authorities said Roosipuu gained notoriety for harassing locals, with social media users alleging that his videos included chasing people and posing highly inappropriate questions to underage women.
Local officials in Negros Oriental formally declared him persona non grata (unwanted person), citing complaints of unauthorised filming, harassment and offensive remarks.
“This is another Vitaly case — different person, same behavior,” Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado said. “A foreign vlogger comes here, disrespects Filipinos, violates our laws and thinks he can hide behind a camera and a social media following. That ends here.”
“The Philippines is not a content playground,” he added. “We welcome tourists and legitimate creators, but anyone who exploits our people for views, clicks, or profit will face arrest, deportation and blacklisting.”
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
