The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, has announced decisive legal and international action in
The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, has announced decisive legal and international action in response to the viral intimate video incident involving several Ghanaian women and a Russian national accused of recording and publishing footage without consent.
Speaking on Wednesday, February 18, the minister confirmed that formal complaints have been filed by a number of the affected women and are currently being processed by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.
According to the minister, authorities are working to escalate the matter internationally, with steps underway to involve Interpol in issuing an international arrest warrant for the suspect.
Sam George stressed that the government intends to pursue the matter to its full legal conclusion, both locally and internationally.
Investigators are collaborating with relevant agencies to activate Interpol protocols while simultaneously preparing for legal proceedings within Ghana. Authorities are working with the cybersecurity regulator and law enforcement agencies to support prosecution processes, including possible proceedings in absentia if the suspect fails to appear before Ghanaian courts.
Officials say the case is not merely a public controversy but a serious legal matter involving alleged violations of privacy, digital exploitation and reputational harm.
Government officials disclosed that the identity of the suspect has been formally established following engagements with diplomatic representatives. The individual has been identified as Vladislav Lerikov, whose passport details — including the document used to enter Ghana — have been secured and will be made available to the media.
The minister emphasised that authorities have clear knowledge of the suspect’s identity and movements and are committed to ensuring accountability.
Beyond the unauthorised recording and circulation of intimate material, officials revealed that some women whose images were shared publicly had no such encounters with the suspect.
According to the minister, some of the affected individuals had only brief public interactions with him, including casual meetings in shopping malls, yet their images were later published in ways that falsely suggested intimate involvement.
Cybersecurity investigators have reviewed multiple instances where images were circulated in a misleading and damaging manner, which authorities say constitutes serious misconduct.
Describing the actions as malicious and harmful, the minister stated that such conduct cannot go unpunished and that the suspect must face the full rigours of the law.
Reaffirming the government’s stance, the minister said the coordinated response involving law enforcement, cybersecurity authorities and international partners demonstrates the seriousness with which the case is being treated.
He emphasised that the state remains committed to protecting citizens from digital exploitation and reputational harm, adding that legal and diplomatic processes are actively underway to ensure justice is served.
Authorities have urged the public to treat the matter with sensitivity while investigations continue.
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