Ghana has formally summoned Russian Ambassador Sergei Berdnikov to express strong displeasure over the alleged conduct of a man identified as a Russian national. This individual is accused of sexually exploiting women and unlawfully recording and circulating intimate videos of Ghanaian and Kenyan women without their consent, actions that violate their privacy and personal dignity. The summons, issued on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs under direct instruction from Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, aimed to address what the government described as “atrocious conduct” that clearly violates Ghanaian law and to seek Russia's cooperation in pursuing justice.

During the diplomatic engagement, Ambassador Berdnikov acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and expressed the Russian Federation's willingness to cooperate with investigations. However, he raised significant doubts regarding the suspect’s nationality, stating he was unable to confirm the individual's Russian citizenship. Furthermore, the Ambassador disclosed that the purported name circulating in the media for the suspect is not a recognized Russian name but rather an inappropriate or vulgar expression in the Russian language. Despite this uncertainty, he demonstrated a commitment to assisting Ghanaian authorities, highlighting similar activities of the individual in other countries that Russian authorities had been investigating. The Ambassador pledged that the Russian Embassy in Ghana is willing to share information to facilitate Ghana’s ongoing efforts to apprehend the individual and bring him to justice, leveraging longstanding bilateral relations even in the absence of a legally binding extradition treaty.

The issue has also drawn the attention of Kenyan authorities. Videos circulating online, allegedly showing a man of Russian descent with several Kenyan women, sparked allegations that he used sunglasses fitted with a hidden camera to record encounters and later shared the footage. While authorities have not confirmed these specific details, Kenya’s Gender Cabinet Secretary Hanna Cheptumo confirmed that the matter is under investigation. The Government of Kenya is coordinating a comprehensive response, with security, investigative, and prosecutorial agencies directed to pursue the matter urgently, including collaboration with international authorities due to its cross-border nature. The Kenya Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched a comprehensive inquiry, stating that the reported violations constitute technology-facilitated gender-based violence, a violation of privacy, personal dignity, and the rights of victims as enshrined in the Constitution. The DCI has activated specialized cybercrime and gender-based violence investigation units to gather evidence, trace digital footprints, and identify the suspect.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reassured the Ghanaian public of its commitment to pursuing the matter to its conclusion, emphasizing that it will leverage the cordial bilateral relations between Ghana and Russia and explore all international tools and remedies to ensure justice is secured. The case has generated significant public outrage across Ghanaian social media and traditional media platforms, bringing to the forefront serious questions about cybercrime, privacy violations, and the dignity of victims in the digital age.