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Viral videos spark outrage over non-consensual filming
On Valentine's Day, Joy Kalekye, a 19-year-old student in Nairobi, received a frantic call from a friend urging her to check social media. A video circulating online showed Kalekye standing alone on a busy street, unaware she was being filmed. The clip captured a man approaching her, complimenting her appearance, and later revealed he had recorded the encounter without her consent.
Pattern of exploitation emerges
Kalekye is one of several women in Kenya and Ghana targeted by a man who secretly filmed interactions with them in public spaces. The videos, which have amassed millions of views, show the man touching women's hair, holding their hands, and asking for their phone numbers. Many of the women appear unaware they are being recorded.
This trend reflects a global issue where creators monetize non-consensual footage, either through social media platforms or by selling guides on how to approach women. The videos have drawn condemnation from activists and politicians in both countries, who are demanding the arrest of the man, identified in the clips as Russian.
Victim-blaming overshadows wrongdoing
Despite the clear violation of privacy, much of the online reaction has focused on shaming the women rather than the perpetrator. Kalekye described the experience as akin to being a "celebrity, but not in a good way," as she faced ridicule and abuse.
"It's like being a celebrity, but not in such a good way."
Joy Kalekye, student
Brenda Yambo, legal counsel at the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya), criticized this response, arguing it reinforces harmful gender stereotypes and shifts blame onto the victims. Instead of addressing the non-consensual recording and distribution of the videos, society scrutinizes the women's behavior, morality, and even their dress, she said.
Videos spread rapidly across platforms
Kalekye first encountered the man in March 2025 when he approached her on a Nairobi street. She declined his invitation to meet, unaware she was being filmed. It wasn't until this year that the video went viral, shared by Kenyan and Ghanaian social media accounts with explicit captions in local languages to drive traffic.
Kelvin Karume, a 22-year-old aspiring content creator in Nairobi, said he found the videos on a Russian YouTube channel and reposted one to his TikTok account. Within two hours, it garnered a million views and thousands of comments. Karume claimed he removed Kalekye's video after she left a comment and took down another at a woman's request, though two other non-consensual videos remain on his channel.
Kenya's Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) warned that resharing such videos constitutes secondary victimization and could lead to criminal prosecution.
Authorities identify suspect, but whereabouts unknown
Ghanaian authorities identified the man as 36-year-old Vladislav Liulkov, releasing his passport photo and announcing plans to extradite him to face charges under cybersecurity laws. They allege he recorded private encounters without consent and monetized the content. His current location is unknown.
The BBC geolocated several videos to shopping centers in Nairobi and Mombasa, as well as near Accra Mall in Ghana. While the man's face is never visible, his voice and a distinctive blue Casio watch appear in multiple clips. Some recordings suggest he used smart glasses, as both his hands are free.
A woman in Ghana, who wished to remain anonymous, told BBC Pidgin she was approached by a man matching the description in January. Though she rejected his advances and no video of her has surfaced, she said seeing the clips gave her flashbacks, fearing she could have been a victim.
Suspect denies involvement, but evidence mounts
The BBC found profiles on a Russian dating site resembling Liulkov, including one photo showing him wearing a blue watch similar to the one in the videos. Another image, posted in April 2025, depicts him in Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses and a traditional East African hat outside a mosque in Mtwapa, near Mombasa.
Russian media reported the videos were shared by accounts using a handle combining Russian slang for male genitals and "glory." A now-removed website under this pseudonym sold a guide on approaching women for 250 rubles ($3). Compilations of similar videos, some from other countries like Cuba, bore this account's watermark.
When contacted by the BBC, Liulkov denied involvement in the social media accounts or websites mentioned in reports. He admitted meeting women in Kenya and Ghana but denied filming them. To Russian outlet Vot Tak, he claimed he had not posted intimate videos on any platform.
Women speak out against online harassment
Kalekye said she received abusive comments, including one man shouting in Swahili that she needed HIV medication. She described the experience as deeply depressing but refused to hide, saying, "I'm strong. I don't have to stay here because of just something someone said."
She urged people to consider the impact of their words, emphasizing that even small negative comments can profoundly affect someone's life. "They don't know how that small negative comment, that you can write down without caring, can affect someone's life," she said.
