His Excellency Sergei Berdnikov, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ghana, has cast serious doubt on claims that the individual at the centre of viral sexually explicit videos involving Ghanaian women is a Russian national, describing the name being circulated in the media as neither Russian nor legitimate, but rather a vulgar expression in the Russian language.
The clarification came after the Ambassador was summoned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs amid public outrage over the circulation of non-consensual intimate videos involving Ghanaian women.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry, the Russian envoy informed Ghanaian authorities that he could not confirm the individual’s Russian nationality, cautioning against concluding solely from online narratives and unverified identities.
Crucially, the Ambassador disclosed that the purported name dominating public discussion is not recognised as a Russian name, explaining that it instead translates into an inappropriate or vulgar term in Russian, raising concerns about possible misinformation, impersonation, or deliberate mislabelling.
“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 Statement said.
While distancing Russia from the identity claims, the Ambassador acknowledged the gravity of the conduct involved, noting that similar activities linked to the same individual had surfaced in other countries and had already come to the attention of Russian authorities. He stated that the matter is currently being investigated by Russian experts, suggesting that the case may be part of a broader pattern of cross-border cyber exploitation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the summons was to express Ghana’s displeasure over the unlawful conduct and to seek Russia’s cooperation in ensuring justice, regardless of the suspect’s nationality.
Ambassador Berdnikov said Russia is willing to share information to support Ghana’s investigations, despite the lack of an extradition treaty. The Ministry assured the public that all diplomatic and legal options will be pursued to protect victims and ensure accountability.
