Newsletters
A controversial video circulating on social media alleges illegal financing of Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides's 2023 election campaign, including claims of cash payments beyond the legal €1 million ($1.16 million) limit, "shadow funds," and donations from tycoons with quid pro quos.
The Cyprus government dismissed the video as "malicious and a product of montage," while former Energy Minister Georgios Lakkotrypis, who appears in the footage, said his statements were "edited to distort the context" and filed a criminal complaint.
The approximately eight-minute video was posted on the X platform just one day after Greek Cyprus assumed the EU Council Presidency on Jan. 1.
"In the last hours, a video has been circulating which, based on the initial assessment of the competent state service, is characterized as malicious and constitutes a product of montage," Greek Cyprus Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said in a written statement.
"The video in question attempts to damage the image of the Government and the country through false, misleading claims and arbitrary conclusions," he added.
The government has asked the Attorney General and the Chief of Police to investigate the case as "hybrid activity."
Lakkotrypis filed a complaint with the Nicosia Crime Investigation Department over the video.
"It is obvious from the video that the statements attributed to me have been edited to distort the context of the discussions," Lakkotrypis said in a written statement.
He attributed the leak to an attempt "to harm our country, the leader of the Greek Cyprus himself, and me personally."
"It is not a coincidence that the leak of the video occurred one day after the opening ceremony of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council," Lakkotrypis noted.
According to the Phileleftheros newspaper, the recording was made with a hidden camera by Dutch individuals who had met with the former minister as investors interested in investing €150 million on behalf of an energy-sector investment fund.
The video, published by an account under the name "Emily Thompson" presenting herself as an independent U.S.-based researcher, contains edited statements from Lakkotrypis, Director of the President's Office Charalambos Charalambous, and Cyfield CEO Giorgos Chrysochoos.
The narrator describes a scenario of illegal financing and circumvention of sanctions against Russian oligarchs, referring to "shadow funds" and "donations from tycoons with quid pro quos."
The video also references the functioning of the Independent Social Support Body managed by First Lady Filippa Karsera-Christodoulides.
According to the footage, statements attributed to Lakkotrypis include: "In Presidential Elections, there is a limit of €1 million. So, sometimes they have to rely on cash to be able to exceed this limit."
"What I want to say is that for a person like Nikos, who has no party behind him, it is not easy to find money. That's why Charalambos told me 'when the time comes, we will need money for the campaign," the video claims.
The video also includes references to a pharmaceutical company allegedly connected to sanctioned Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven of Letter One, with Lakkotrypis allegedly discussing efforts to prevent sanctions on a third shareholder.
"We talk to the President, we talk to the First Lady. She accepts sponsorships for her projects," Lakkotrypis is quoted as saying.
Charalambous, Director of the President's Office and a relative of leader Christodoulides, allegedly states, "We are the main contacts here at the Palace, next to the President."
"You can come and say, 'we want to do this business and we have this money to be used for corporate social responsibility.' For example, a few days ago, an American who has good ties with the country wanted to make a contribution to the government for €500,000. Of course, I was thinking that we can arrange a meeting with the president, if you want," Charalambous allegedly states.
Cyfield CEO Chrysochoos allegedly states: "The relationship we have is one of the biggest assets we have. We have daily communication. It's like my girlfriend. I managed to complete this particular project in March by going from office to office, government service to government service, pulling the right strings."
"So we gave her 10,000 every year, which may not be much, but we support other initiatives too. I pay 250,000 every year in donations. Every time the government organizes charitable events, with the president, I'm there," Chrysochoos allegedly adds.
AKEL General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou said, "The video circulating on social media related to financing involving the Christodoulides Government raises serious institutional and political issues to which the Government must give clear answers."
Parliament President and DISY President Annita Demetriou said, "For quite some time now, a video implicating persons and the government in illegal practices has been circulating. I hope it does not correspond to reality. I expect the competent authorities to do what is obvious."
Set as preferred source
2 min read
