BI: Russian vlogger negative for HIV

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January 24, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) yesterday said the Russian vlogger who went viral on social media for threatening to deliberately spread human immunodeficiency virus while in the Philippines has tested negative for HIV.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the prompt check done by the Department of Health on Nikita Chekhov showed negative results.

“He was also tested for other related illnesses, all of which yielded negative results,” he added.

Viado noted that the test results confirm the BI’s initial suspicion that the foreigner’s social media posts were rage-bait, intended to provoke fear and gain online traction.

“He now faces deportation charges for undesirability, as his social media posts caused fear and panic among the public,” Viado said.

Meanwhile, Viado denied that pregnant women or children are held inside the BI Warden Facility as claimed by another blacklisted Russian.

“These videos are again rage-bait, using familiar tactics to generate views and online engagement,” Viado said.