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Political tensions mounted in Cyprus on Thursday after a controversial video circulated on social media alleging illicit campaign financing linked to President Nikos Christodoulides, prompting demands for explanations, a police complaint by a former minister, and an investigation into what authorities described as possible “hybrid activity” against the Republic.
The video was posted on the X platform by an account using the name @EmilyTanalyst and carried the title, “Bombshell Video Reveals the Shadow Funds of the President of Cyprus.” It purports to show former Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis, Presidential Office Director Charalambos Charalambous, and Cyfield Group Director Giorgos Chrysochos discussing issues related to pre-election financing. The authenticity of the video has not been verified.
Political leaders from across the spectrum reacted within hours.
“For quite some time now, a video has been circulating that implicates individuals and the government in illegal practices. I hope it does not reflect reality,” said House Speaker and DISY leader Annita Demetriou, adding, “I expect the competent authorities to do the obvious.”
AKEL General Secretary Stefanos Stephanou said, “The video circulating on social media, which relates to funding involving the Christodoulides Government, raises serious institutional and political issues to which the Government must provide clear answers,” adding that “we are awaiting and will return.”
DIKO President Nikolas Papadopoulos said, “For several hours now, a video has been circulating on social media that refers to funding of the President of the Republic. In the context of transparency, citizens are entitled to and expect explanations regarding its content.”
EDEK, in a statement, said it viewed the matter “with great reservation regarding the authenticity of the video and the account that posted it, and with reasonable suspicions about the motives behind its publication,” while calling “for a full investigation, with the aim that the government provides irrefutable explanations using legal and scientific means.” The party added that “truth, transparency, and the reputation of Cyprus and its institutions are above all else for EDEK.”
The government rejected the allegations, describing the video as manipulated. Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said in a written statement that, “based on an initial assessment by the competent state service,” the video “is characterized as malicious and a product of editing.”
“The video in question seeks, through false and misleading claims and arbitrary conclusions, to harm the image of the Government and the country,” Letymbiotis said.
Later in the day, the government escalated its response. “Based on further investigation and evidence already collected by the competent service, a case of hybrid activity against the Republic of Cyprus is being examined,” Letymbiotis said in a subsequent statement, adding that the Attorney General and the Chief of Police had been informed.
Lakkotrypis said he had filed a complaint with the Nicosia Criminal Investigation Department. In a written statement, he said the video originated “from a fake profile on the X platform” and that “it is obvious from the video that the statements attributed to me have been edited in order to distort the context of the discussions, with the ultimate aim of harming our country, the President of the Republic himself, and me personally.”
“I have already filed a complaint with the Nicosia CID, to which I will submit all the evidence at my disposal,” he said, adding that “it is no coincidence that the leak of the video occurred one day after the opening ceremony of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU.”
Authorities have not announced conclusions regarding the video’s origin or content, and the investigation remains ongoing.
