Govt summons Russian Ambassador over viral sex videos leak scandal
The Government of Ghana has summoned the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ghana following what it describes as the unlawful conduct of a supposed Russian national accused of publishing sexually explicit images of Ghanaian women without their consent.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that His Excellency Sergei Berdnikov was invited on the instruction of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to formally register the government’s strong protest over the incident.
According to the Ministry, the meeting was intended to convey Ghana’s displeasure at what it described as “atrocious conduct” that violates Ghanaian law and the privacy and dignity of the victims. The government also sought Russia’s cooperation in pursuing justice in the matter.
Ambassador Berdnikov acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, including the privacy breaches and broader cybercrime implications. He expressed the willingness of the Russian Federation to cooperate with Ghanaian authorities in addressing the issue.
However, the Ambassador indicated that he was unable to confirm the Russian nationality of the individual at the centre of the viral videos. He further disclosed that the name circulating in sections of the media is not recognised as a known Russian name and, constitutes an inappropriate or vulgar expression in the Russian language.
He also revealed that similar alleged activities linked to the same individual in other countries had come to the attention of Russian authorities and were currently under investigation by experts in Russia.
The Ambassador pledged that the Russian Embassy in Accra would share relevant information to support Ghana’s ongoing efforts to identify, apprehend and prosecute the suspect. He noted that this cooperation would take place within the framework of the longstanding bilateral relations between Ghana and Russia, despite the absence of a legally binding extradition treaty between the two countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured the public that it remains committed to leveraging the cordial ties between Ghana and Russia and will explore all available international mechanisms and remedies to ensure justice is served.
