TWO foreign vloggers were arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) one for threatening to spread HIV in the country and the other for harassing girls and mocking at Filipinos whom he calls ‘monkey-faced.’
BI-Fugitive Search Unit (FSU),FSU chief Rendel Ryan Sy said Nikita Chekhov, 21, also a Russian, was arrested inside a condominium building in Quezon City. Before that, he went viral on social media for threatening to deliberately spread HIV while in the Philippines.
It was leaerned from BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval that Chekhov arrived in the country as a tourist on January 15, 2026. Shortly after his arrival, he uploaded videos filmed in Bonifacio High Street in Taguig, where he made alarming claims that he intended to spread HIV during his stay in the Philippines.
The videos, believed to be made as “rage bait” content, sparked widespread concern and fear among residents and online users.
Interior Sec. Jonvic Remulla said the vlogger tested negative for aids of any sexually-transmitted disease.
Sandoval said the arrest comes just days after the deportation of Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy for committing undesirable acts in Bonifacio Global City.
Chekhov is a native of Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, Russia, and arrived in the Philippines from Shanghai, China. He has no known relatives in the country. He has been placed at the BI’s detention facility pending deportation proceedings, similar to actions taken against other foreign nationals who committed undesirable acts while in the country.
Also nabbed was Estonian YouTuber Siim Roosipuu, 34, who was declared persona non grata in Dumaguete City for posting disrespectful content involving minors and who had been calling Filipinos ‘monkey-faced.’
It was learned that Roosipuu earned the ire of local officials in Negros Oriental who declared him persona non grata, citing complaints of harassment, unauthorized filming, offensive remarks and online content that demeaned Filipinos. The city council resolution was endorsed to national agencies, triggering enforcement action and the foreigner’s arrest.
Sandoval said Roosipuu was arrested by BI intelligence operatives and anti-terrorist group on January 15, in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) Dumaguete City Police Station and Barangay Cantil-e officials.
Roosipuu ran a YouTube channel called ‘Pro Life Traveler’, and allegedly harasses Filipinos, including minors. Videos of him chasing and asking inappropriate questions to underage women circulated on social media.
Their arrest came days after Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy was deported following his detention for causing trouble also at BGC.
