Authorities have confirmed the identity of the individual at the centre of the non-consensual intimate video scandal as 36-year-old Vladislav Aleksandrovich Liulkov, after verifying his official passport. Ghanaian officials are now seeking an international arrest warrant through INTERPOL, with diplomatic channels fully engaged.
The confirmation resolves days of speculation about the suspect’s identity and nationality. Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam Nartey George, posted Liulkov’s passport on social media, establishing him as a citizen of the Russian Federation.
The passport, numbered 77 7784005 and issued by Russian authorities on December 9, 2025, lists his full name as Vladislav Aleksandrovich Liulkov, with a birth date of September 19, 1989, and place of birth in the Uzbek SSR, formerly part of the Soviet Union. The document remains valid until December 9, 2035.
Earlier doubts raised by the Russian Embassy over the authenticity of the suspect’s identity have now been clarified. Ambassador Sergei Berdnikov had questioned whether the widely circulated name corresponded to a genuine Russian identity, suggesting it could carry inappropriate meaning in the Russian language. Verification of the official passport has resolved these uncertainties.
The revelation came during a joint press briefing with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, where government officials outlined a multi-pronged strategy to address what has been described as a severe violation of Ghanaian women’s privacy and dignity.
Government sources confirmed that the Criminal Investigation Department is actively pursuing an INTERPOL arrest warrant, signalling Ghana’s commitment to holding Liulkov accountable, irrespective of his current location. Given the transnational nature of the case, authorities have coordinated with international law enforcement and engaged diplomatic channels to ensure cooperation.
Ministers emphasized that while Ghana respects Russia’s sovereign legal processes, the government will exhaust all lawful avenues to protect its citizens and seek justice.
The verification of Liulkov’s nationality represents a key moment in an investigation that has already involved high-level diplomatic intervention. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa summoned Ambassador Berdnikov on February 17 to express Ghana’s strong displeasure over the actions of the alleged Russian national. The ambassador confirmed receipt of the brief and indicated the matter would be forwarded to authorities in Moscow. While no extradition treaty exists between Ghana and Russia, he assured Ghana of continued diplomatic engagement and noted that the conduct in question would also be treated as criminal under Russian law.
The public has been warned against sharing or circulating the illicit material, as doing so constitutes a criminal offense under Ghanaian law.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has established a comprehensive support framework for victims affected by the unauthorized release of intimate images. Speaking at the press briefing, Gender Minister Agnes Naa Momo Lartey said:
“To victims affected by this act, the Gender Children and Social Protection Ministry has a victim support desk set up fully equipped with clinical professionals to provide all the psychological and emotional support you need. Be assured that all these will be done in confidence.”
Dr Lartey also urged the public to stop distributing the illegal content, warning that doing so exacerbates trauma and carries serious legal consequences:
“I will urge us to stop sharing the pictures and the videos. It is not good; you might think that it is fun sharing it, but from where I sit, people can lose their lives because of that. Their entire future can be wiped away because of that.”
She highlighted how naivety and excessive trust can leave young people vulnerable to exploitation and stressed that victim-blaming has no place in the national dialogue.
“People fall, but the good thing is that they gather the courage to rise again. Let’s give these people the opportunity to rise,” she said.
Under Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act 2020, anyone publishing explicit images of adults without consent faces penalties of up to 25 years in prison.
Authorities have called on other potential victims to come forward and contact the Ministry of Gender’s support desk for confidential assistance. The government has promised further updates as diplomatic and law enforcement measures continue to unfold.
This morning, together with my Honourable Colleague, Naa Momo Lartey, 𝐏𝐡𝐃, Minister for Gender, Children & Social Protection, we engaged the Russian Ambassador to Ghana.
— Sam 'Dzata' George 🦁🇬🇭 (@samgeorgegh) February 18, 2026
We had very fruitful deliberations where we presented information available to us with relation to… pic.twitter.com/CEMY68aKOG
