Russia has distanced itself from the individual at the centre of the viral explicit video scandal in Ghana, stating it cannot confirm the person’s nationality despite ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
The development follows the summoning of Sergei Berdnikov, Russia’s Ambassador to Ghana, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to formally protest the unlawful circulation of sexually explicit images of Ghanaian women without their consent.
The Government of Ghana expressed strong displeasure over the incident, describing the act as a clear violation of Ghanaian law and an affront to the privacy and dignity of the victims. Authorities also requested Russia’s cooperation in identifying and prosecuting the suspect.
In response, Ambassador Berdnikov acknowledged the gravity of the matter and condemned the violation, highlighting the broader cybercrime dimensions of the case. He assured Ghanaian officials of Russia’s readiness to cooperate fully with ongoing investigations.
However, the Ambassador clarified that Russian authorities are unable to confirm that the suspect is a Russian national. He further indicated that the name circulating in media reports does not correspond to any recognised Russian name and instead appears to be a vulgar or inappropriate expression in the Russian language.
According to him, similar activities allegedly linked to the same individual have surfaced in other countries and are currently being examined by Russian cybercrime experts.
Although there is no formal extradition treaty between Ghana and Russia, the Ambassador pledged that the Russian Embassy in Accra would share relevant information to assist Ghana’s efforts to apprehend the suspect and ensure accountability.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to pursuing justice through diplomatic and international legal channels, stressing that the government will leverage its bilateral relations with Russia and all available international mechanisms to protect victims and uphold the law.
