Ghanaian authorities have formally moved to extradite a Russian national accused of secretly recording intimate encounters with several women in Ghana and distributing the footage online without their consent, officials said.
The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, led by Samuel Nartey George, announced on Saturday, February 14, 2026, that the government has begun diplomatic and legal processes to bring the suspect back to Ghana to face prosecution under the country’s cybersecurity laws.
Mr. George said his ministry has already engaged the Russian Embassy as part of efforts to secure cooperation from Russian authorities in processing the extradition request. “We want the gentleman to come to Ghana, to be brought back to Ghana, extradited to Ghana, for him to face the rigours of our law,” he told journalists.
The Russian man, identified by various media outlets as Vyacheslav Trahov and known online as Yaytseslav, allegedly approached several Ghanaian women in public areas, including near Accra Mall, before inviting them to private residences. He then reportedly used smart glasses to record intimate activities and posted the videos on social media platforms and subscription channels without the women’s consent — a move that sparked widespread public outrage.
Officials stressed that preliminary information suggests the suspect may no longer be within Ghana’s borders. However, they said this does not diminish the state’s obligation to pursue accountability, including through international cooperation mechanisms such as mutual legal assistance and possible collaboration with INTERPOL.
Authorities have also called on the public to avoid sharing or circulating the footage, citing the need to protect victims’ privacy and dignity and to uphold national cybersecurity standards. Support services, including confidential legal and psychosocial care, are being coordinated for affected individuals, government statements indicated.
