Operatives of the Bureau of Immigration, Republic of the Philippines Fugitive Search Unit arrested a 21 year old Russian vlogger who drew public outrage after posting videos online threatening to deliberately spread HIV while in the Philippines.
The suspect, identified by BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado as Nikita Chekhov, was arrested inside a condominium building in Quezon City following monitoring of his social media activity. Authorities said Chekhov entered the country as a tourist on January 15 and shortly after began uploading videos filmed at Bonifacio High Street.
In the clips, Chekhov made alarming statements suggesting he intended to spread HIV during his stay. The content, widely described as rage bait, circulated rapidly online and triggered concern among viewers, prompting calls for authorities to intervene.
Immigration officials said Chekhov is a native of Taganrog in Russia’s Rostov Oblast and arrived in the Philippines from Shanghai, China. He has no known relatives or legal ties in the country.
Viado said the videos irresponsibly caused fear and panic, adding that foreigners who enter the Philippines to provoke alarm or disrespect the public will be dealt with under immigration laws. Chekhov was placed under custody at the BI detention facility while deportation proceedings are prepared. The agency also coordinated with the Department of Health in relation to the case.
The arrest follows a series of recent actions against foreign content creators accused of abusive behavior. Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy was deported earlier this week for undesirable acts in Bonifacio Global City, while Estonian YouTuber Siim Roosipuu was arrested and later declared persona non grata in Dumaguete City over offensive online content.
Immigration officials said these cases underscore stricter enforcement against foreign nationals who exploit social media for harmful stunts. The BI noted that the arrest is consistent with the directive of Bongbong Marcos to hold foreigners accountable when their actions threaten public safety and order.
