Video suggesting illegal financing of Cypriot President Christodoulides’ election campaign may have far-reaching consequences for local and European politics. The president has described the recording, whose authenticity remains unclear, as a “hybrid attack intended to damage Cyprus’s reputation” at a time when Cyprus assumed the Council Presidency. President’s wife, top aide have already resigned from their posts in connection with the scandal.
The video was made public on social media some 24 hours after Cyprus had launched the official opening ceremony of its EU presidency on 7 January. It was posted on the user account of a self-described ’independent researcher’ called Emily Thompson.
The recording begins by stating that although President Nikos Christodoulides promised to root out corruption during his campaign, he himself allegedly uses corrupt mechanisms and “nothing has changed.”
“We sometimes depend on cash”
The video, which seems to have been secretly filmed, depicts aides and allies of Mr Christodoulides. These include including Giorgos Lakkotrypis, the former energy minister, and Charalambos Charalambous, his chief of staff. The men hold a conversation with unidentified ’investors’ and are heard saying that access to the president is possible in exchange for cash donations. Such donations, according to the recording, would be funnelled to a charitable fund assisting children in need headed by the President’s wife.
In one moment, exminister Lakkotrypis said that because Mr Christodoulides ran as an independent candidate without the backing of any political party, “they sometimes have to depend on cash” to bypass the €1m cap on campaign funding.
In another moment, Mr Charalambous is heard saying that investors could have access to the President if they made a proposal and offer of money and cites the case of a Russian oligarch, with links to a pharmaceutical company on the island, who escaped EU sanctions by speaking to the President through a €75,000 ’donation’. Charalambos Charalambous is the President’s brother-in-law, he oversaw Christodoulides’ campaign finances.
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Disinformation attack, or…?
On Monday 12 January, i. e. four days after the video had been published, President Christodoulides told reporters that his “hands are clean” and called on state authorities to fully investigate the affair. “I am here, I have nothing to fear,” Mr Christodoulides said.
It is a malicious disinformation attack bearing all the hallmarks of previous Russian campaigns. – Cypriot authorities on the disputed video
Cypriot authorities called the video a ’malicious disinformation attack’ bearing ’all the hallmarks’ of previous Russian campaigns against other countries. A fresh Cyprus Security Services analysis says, without providing details, that the video exhibits characteristics of organised Russian disinformation campaigns.
However, two immediate resignations raise suspicions. Over the weekend, first lady Philippa Karsera announced she would step down from the management committee of a charitable fund mentioned in the video. The first lasy cited ’unrelenting attacks’ on her family.
On Monday, also Mr Charalambous did resign from his position. “In recent days, there has been a targeted effort to personally attack the President, to discredit the government, and damage our country’s image,” Mr Charalambous said. The now former head of President’s office described the recording as deliberately distorted and denied any involvement in illegal activities.
Elections looming, EU does not comment
According to Cypriot officials, the country has requested technical assistance from the United States, France, and the United Kingdom to help investigate the video. However, this could take months, and the events surrounding the alleged corruption may well overshadow Cyprus’ role as the country holding the Council Presidency. Security and defence are, at least in theory, on the top of Cyprus’ Presidency agenda, as well as assistance to Ukraine.
In addition, parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place in Cyprus at the end of May, and opposition parties will undoubtedly try to use the scandal in the election campaign. The leftwing Akel party has already ccused the government of failing to provide sufficient transparency.
Neither Commission nor Council have so far officially reacted to the disputed video. Having been contacted by various media outlets, both institutions did not provide any comments.
