Russian government denounces Vitaly after streamer thrown in Philippine jail

Russian government officials have decried the actions of Kick streamer Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, who is now awaiting trial in the Philippines for harassing locals during his trip in April 2025.

Russian Ambassador Marat Pavlov, the country’s top representative in Manila, addressed the incident during a press conference at the Russian Embassy’s Victory Day reception on May 8.

In a statement to reporters, Pavlov urged Russian nationals to follow the ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’ adage.

“They [Russian citizens] are obliged to be in conformity with the law of the country they are staying in,” Pavlov said.

He went on to express that most Russians visiting the Philippines are “really disciplined,” and admitted that he hoped that they wouldn’t face discrimination in the country due to the actions of one bad apple.

Pavolv also urged law enforcement to handle any future cases “discreetly,” as opposed to the highly-publicized case surrounding Vitaly.

“It should be put and resolved in a quiet manner without so many publicity, that is my view,” he added.

Vitaly’s arrest sparks response from Russian government

Vitaly is a prominent content creator with over 330K followers on Kick and more than 10M subscribers on YouTube.

While he’s known for over-the-top stunts like streaking across the football pitch at the Germany vs Argentina World Cup in 2014, his latest shenanigans have resulted in serious consequences for the influencer.

Vitaly was arrested in April 2025 for antics he streamed during his trip to the Philippines, which included taunting locals, stealing an electric fan from a business and even crashing a tricycle into a parked vehicle.

Now, the streamer is awaiting trial in a shared cell, going without air conditioning in 97-degree heat and eating the same cheap meals every day.

The Philippines’ president, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr, even called out Vitaly directly, saying in a statement that the content creator’s antics made his “blood boil.”

According to officials, Vitaly has already admitted guilt, and his cameraman, who filmed the shenanigans that landed him in prison, is also facing charges.