The scandal surrounding the frank interview of comedian and veteran Viktor Rozovyi with blogger Ramina Eskhakzai shows no signs of fading. The reaction to the former husband’s statements came swiftly — Rozovyi’s ex-wife, Olga Merzlikina, released documents in response. Following the wave of criticism against the comedian for his intimate confessions in a public space, the interviewer herself became the subject of scrutiny. The situation was complicated by Olga Merzlikina’s position, as she publicly denied the interviewer’s claim that she had been informed and had asked not to edit the first version of the interview, reported by Baltimore Chronicle.
How the Scandal Began
In her conversation with blogger Ramina Eskhakzai, Viktor Rozovyi went into detail about the personal aspects of his married life, including intimate moments, which sparked a storm of outrage on the internet. The video from the author’s YouTube channel was removed, but fragments of it quickly spread across social media, sparking a discussion about the boundaries of journalistic ethics. Later, the episode was reposted — but without the most controversial moments. Eskhakzai explained this by “ethical considerations” and assured that the interview had been agreed upon with Rozovyi himself, his close ones, and even a psychotherapist.
Ramina’s Position and Merzlikina’s Response
Under a wave of criticism, Ramina stated that the ex-wife was aware of the episode’s release and had “asked not to edit the first version.” She also published part of the correspondence in response to subscriber accusations. However, Olga Merzlikina publicly responded that she had never been offered to review the interview before its release, and her request to “not edit” referred to the already published version.
“No one had me listen to the video before its release; I did not ask the interviewer for anything, so I would ask that the actual information be reflected from the author’s point of view. I hadn’t seen the video; I only knew about its removal and the author’s explanation that the reason was to remove some ‘evaluative judgments’ from Rozovyi. My position regarding the editing of the ex-husband’s interview after negative comments was expressed to the author, for me this is an attempt to ‘beautify and justify’,” she emphasized.
Documents and Financial Disputes
Olga Merzlikina also showed a copy of the divorce agreement signed on May 14, 2025. The document contains provisions regarding the non-disclosure of personal details in public, financial settlements, and a waiver of future claims. An additional clause states that in the event of a breach of the non-disclosure agreement, the other party has the right to release their version of the events. However, Olga has refrained from sharing further details for now. In the interview, Viktor Rozovyi mentioned that he paid his ex-wife 500,000 hryvnias as moral compensation as per the divorce agreement, using funds raised for his rehabilitation. Olga denies this interpretation of the money’s origin: the transfer, she says, came from Rozovyi’s personal bank account, and the source of the funds is the sender’s personal responsibility.
Why the Interview Was Removed
After the wave of negative reactions, the episode disappeared from the channel. Some viewers speculated about legal pressure, but the author explained the removal by a desire to eliminate “evaluative judgments” and overly intimate details. Olga, however, sees this as an attempt to soften the consequences, not a concern for ethical standards.
Rozovyi’s New Love
Amid the scandal, the comedian hinted that he was not alone: he posted a photo of his new partner, Yana-Katerina, who, according to her profile, lives in Lviv. Previously, there were photos with her circulating online, but without confirming their relationship. According to Rozovyi, it was she who allegedly advised him to remove the sharpest fragment of the interview about his intimate life with his ex-wife, although he initially insisted on keeping it unchanged.
Earlier we wrote that police open criminal case against blogger Olena Mandziuk.