The identity of the suspect at the centre of the non-consensual intimate video scandal has been confirmed as 36-year-old Vladislav Aleksandrovich Liulkov, following verification of his official passport documentation, with authorities now moving to secure an international arrest warrant through INTERPOL as diplomatic channels remain fully activated.

In a development that ends days of speculation about the perpetrator’s identity and nationality, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam Nartey George, published the suspect’s passport on Facebook. The document confirmed his status as a citizen of the Russian Federation.

The passport, bearing number 77 7784005 and issued by Russian authorities on December 9, 2025, lists the holder’s surname as Liulkov, with given name Vladislav and patronymic Aleksandrovich. It confirms his date of birth as September 19, 1989, making him 36 years old, and states his place of birth as the Uzbek SSR, formerly part of the Soviet Union. The passport remains valid until December 9, 2035.

The confirmation addresses earlier doubts raised by the Russian Embassy, which had questioned whether the name circulating in media reports corresponded to a known Russian identity. Ambassador Sergei Berdnikov had previously suggested that the purported name making the rounds was not a known Russian name and might constitute an inappropriate expression in the Russian language. However, subsequent verification of the official passport documentation has resolved those initial uncertainties.

The update was provided during a joint press conference with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, where ministers outlined the government’s multi-pronged response to what has been described as an “atrocious” violation of Ghanaian women’s privacy and dignity.

Government sources confirmed that the Criminal Investigation Department is now actively pursuing an international arrest warrant through INTERPOL, signalling Ghana’s determination to bring Liulkov to justice regardless of his current location.

Given the cross-border nature of the case, the government has activated diplomatic and international law enforcement cooperation, including engagement with INTERPOL and relevant security agencies.

The ministers reaffirmed that while Ghana respects the sovereign legal processes of the Russian Federation, the government remains resolute in its constitutional duty to protect its citizens and will pursue all lawful avenues to ensure justice.

The verification of Liulkov’s nationality marks a significant moment in an investigation that has involved high-level diplomatic engagement. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had earlier summoned Ambassador Sergei Berdnikov on February 17 to formally register the government’s strong displeasure over the conduct of the supposed Russian national.

In response to that meeting, the Russian Ambassador acknowledged receipt of the formal brief and confirmed that the information would be transmitted to authorities in Moscow. He noted that while there is no extradition treaty between Ghana and Russia, the alleged conduct would also be considered criminal under Russian law and assured Ghana of continued diplomatic cooperation.

The public has been urged to refrain from sharing or redistributing the illegal material, as such actions constitute criminal offences under Ghanaian law.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has established a comprehensive support system for victims whose lives have been disrupted by the unauthorised publication of intimate images.

Speaking at the press briefing, Gender Minister Agnes Naa Momo Lartey disclosed that a dedicated victim support desk has been set up and fully equipped with clinical professionals to provide psychological and emotional assistance.

“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.”

The Gender Minister also issued a strong appeal to the public to stop sharing the illicit material, warning that such actions deepen the trauma experienced by victims and carry 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,” Dr Lartey said during an interview on the sidelines of the AU Summit in Addis Ababa.

She lamented what she described as the naivety and overly trusting nature that can make young people vulnerable to exploitation, while stressing that victim-blaming has no place in the national conversation about the incident.

“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 pleaded.

Under Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act 2020, anyone who publishes explicit images of adults without full consent can face up to 25 years in prison.

As investigations continue, authorities have urged any additional victims who have not yet come forward to contact the Ministry of Gender’s support desk, where they will receive confidential assistance and professional care. The government has pledged to provide further updates as diplomatic and law enforcement processes progress.