MANILA — Operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) arrested a 21-year-old Russian vlogger who went viral for threatening to deliberately spread HIV while in the Philippines.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the foreign national as Nikita Chekhov, who was apprehended inside a condominium building in Quezon City. Chekhov arrived in the country as a tourist on January 15 and shortly after posted videos filmed in Bonifacio High Street, Taguig, in which he claimed he intended to spread HIV during his stay.

“These so-called rage-bait videos irresponsibly cause fear and panic among the public,” Viado said. “Foreign nationals who come to the Philippines to spread alarm, disrespect our people, or abuse our hospitality are not welcome and will face deportation.”

Chekhov, a native of Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, Russia, arrived from Shanghai, China, and has no known relatives in the Philippines.

His arrest follows similar actions against foreign nationals who engaged in undesirable acts, including Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, who was deported for misconduct in Bonifacio Global City, and Estonian YouTuber Siim Roosipuu, declared persona non grata in Dumaguete City for posting disrespectful content involving minors.

Chekhov is currently detained at the BI’s facility pending deportation proceedings. The agency has also coordinated with the Department of Health regarding the case.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. issued directives emphasizing that foreign nationals who abuse the country’s hospitality and undermine public safety will be held accountable under Philippine law.