THE Russian blogger accused of secretly filming himself having sex with women in Ghana has been pictured for the first time.
The West African nation now intends to formally request the extradition of Yaytseslav Trahov amid allegations he recorded and circulated intimate encounters online.
Media outlets in both Ghana and Russia described Trahov as a “pick-up artist” in his thirties who travelled to the country to film his interactions with women.
According to reports, he allegedly used a pair of sunglasses fitted with a hidden camera to record some of the encounters.
He later shared short clips across social media with the full versions being made available on his paid Telegram channel.
One woman, who said she worked as an estate agent, described how Trahov allegedly approached her at a shopping centre shortly after arriving in the country.
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He told her he was searching for a new apartment and, after exchanging contact details, the pair arranged to meet at his apartment to discuss rental options.
What she expected to be a routine business meeting quickly became something else.
“Upon arrival, the conversation shifted away from anything professional, so I chose to leave immediately,” she said.
“Nothing inappropriate happened between us at any point.”
Her account is one of around 40 cases believed to be under scrutiny, with officials suspecting that videos involving dozens of women may have been circulated.
Ghana’s technology minister, Sam George, confirmed he had summoned the Russian ambassador to address the allegations.
The meeting, to be held in the capital, Accra, will focus on securing cooperation from Moscow.
A Ghanaian official said preliminary investigations indicated the suspect had likely already left the country.
However, he stressed that this did “not reduce the seriousness of the alleged conduct or the state’s responsibility to pursue accountability”.
George made clear that authorities intend to aggressively pursue the case.
“The gentleman will be looked for, we will activate every resource in our disposal working with Interpol,” he said.
“We will request the Russian authorities – and that is why I have invited the Russian ambassador – to work with law enforcement.
“We want the gentleman to be brought back to Ghana, extradited to Ghana for him to face the rigours of our law.”
While Russia does not typically extradite its citizens, Ghanaian officials say they are prepared to exhaust all diplomatic and legal avenues.
George added that if Trahov refuses to return voluntarily, prosecutors would consider trying him in absentia.
Further reports suggest the same individual may have been linked to similar alleged offences in Kenya, raising concerns that the case could span multiple jurisdictions.
Under Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act 2020, publishing explicit images of adults or children without full consent carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.
The case comes amid a wider crackdown on digital sexual exploitation in the country.
In 2022, a court sentenced a 22-year-old man to 14 years behind bars for sharing nude images of a Lebanese woman.
He pleaded guilty to sexual extortion and non-consensual sharing of intimate material – a sign, officials say, that the courts are prepared to impose stiff penalties.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities insist the message is clear: those who exploit others online will face the full force of the law.