The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ghana, His Excellency Sergei Berdnikov, has told the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the purported name circulating in the media is not a recognised Russian name.
According to him, the nationality of the individual in question has not been confirmed, as the name being circulated in the media is a rather represented “an inappropriate or vulgar expression in the Russian language.”
He acknowledged the violation of the victims’ privacy and the broader cybercrime implications and expressed the willingness of the Russian authorities to cooperate.
Ambassador Berdnikov also indicated that similar acts by the individual are under investigation in other countries and pledged that the Russian Embassy in Ghana would share information to aid Ghana’s efforts in apprehending the suspect, despite the absence of an extradition treaty.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs read, “ACCRA, 17th FEBRUARY, 2026 – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ghana, His Excellency Sergei Berdnikov, was summoned today, Tuesday, 17th February, 2026, on the instruction of the Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs over the conduct of a supposed Russian national in unlawfully publishing sexually explicit images of Ghanaian women without their consent.
The objective of the summons was to formally express the strong displeasure of the Goverment o Ghana at the atrocious conduct of the supposed Russian, which clearly violates Ghanaian law, and to seek the cooperation of Russia in pursuing justice.
Ambassador Sergei Berdnikov acknowledged the violation of the privacy and dignity of the victims in the larger cybercrime dimensions, while expressing the willingness of the Russian Federation to cooperate with the Republic of Ghana on the matter at issue”.
The press release added, “The Russian Ambassador, however, indicated that he is unable to confirm the Russian nationality of the individual at the centre of the intimate viral videos, and further disclosed that the purported name making the rounds in the media is not a known Russian name and rather represents an inappropriate or vulgar expression in the Russian language.
The Ambassador highlighted similar activities of the said individual in other countries, which had come to the attention of Russian authorities and were being investigated by Russian experts.
Ambassador Sergei Berdnikov has pledged that the Embassy in Ghana is willing to share information on the matter to facilitate Ghana’s ongoing efforts aimed at apprehending the individual and bringing him to justice, within the context of our longstanding bilateral relations, despite the absence of a legally binding extradition treaty.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to assure the general public of its commitment to leverage the cordial bilateral relations between Ghana and Russia, and to explore all international tools and remedies to ensure that justice is secured”.
Meanwhile, Patrick Yaw Boamah, the Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, has said the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam Nartey George, attempts to extradite a Russian man over leaked intimate videos is a lost cause.
The MP argued that the Communications Minister lacks the legal position to initiate such an extradition process.
According to Patrick Boamah, who serves on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Ghana does not currently have an extradition treaty with Russia, which makes the process legally challenging.
Speaking to Channel One News on Monday, February 16, Patrick Boamah explained, “The Attorney General hasn’t made any application for extradition, which I think no court will grant, with the greatest of respect, because we don’t have that treaty with the Russians.
“Russia is not a state party to the Budapest Convention, which criminalises some of these things that the minister was talking about, including the additional protocols. And also, the amendment to the Cybersecurity Bill is not properly before Parliament. So those are issues that the government has to deal with,” he said
See the post below:
Russian Ambassador summoned on my instructions as Government of Ghana protests unlawful conduct of supposed Russian.
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) February 17, 2026
We shall firmly pursue justice in this matter. pic.twitter.com/II5A5188Rp