The Government of Ghana has summoned the Ambassador of the Russia to Ghana following what authorities describe as unlawful conduct by a supposed Russian national accused of publishing sexually explicit images of Ghanaian women without their consent.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ghana) confirmed that the Russian Ambassador to Ghana, Sergei Berdnikov, was invited to the Ministry on the instructions of the Foreign Affairs Minister to formally register Ghana’s protest over the incident.

According to the ministry, the summons was intended to communicate the government’s “strong displeasure” over the alleged actions, which officials say violate Ghanaian laws and infringe on the privacy and dignity of the victims.

Authorities are also seeking Russia’s cooperation in ensuring justice is served.

During the meeting, Ambassador Berdnikov reportedly acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, including the cybercrime dimensions of the case, and expressed Russia’s willingness to collaborate with Ghanaian authorities.

However, the ambassador indicated that the Russian side is currently unable to confirm the nationality of the suspect at the centre of the viral videos. He also noted that the name circulating in the media - Vyacheslav Trahova - does not correspond to a known Russian name and may instead be an inappropriate or vulgar expression in the Russian language.

The diplomat further disclosed that similar activities linked to the individual have been flagged in other countries and are under investigation by Russian authorities.

Despite the absence of a legally binding extradition treaty between Ghana and Russia, the ambassador pledged that the Russian Embassy in Accra would share relevant information to support Ghana’s efforts to apprehend the suspect and pursue legal action.

The ministry reaffirmed the government’s commitment to leveraging the longstanding bilateral relations between Ghana and Russia, as well as all available international legal tools, to secure justice for the affected victims.

The statement concluded with assurances to the public that the government remains determined to protect citizens’ rights and uphold the law in matters involving cybercrime and privacy violations.