According to the media, the former Minister of Energy Giorgos Lakkotrypis has filed a complaint for visual material released on the social networking platform “X” that shows him participating in conversations regarding issues of pre-election financing, investment interest and access to the Presidential environment, as reported by the Cypriot media.
The roughly eight-minute video was posted as a leak from an account that appears to belong to Emily Thompson, who describes herself as an independent researcher and analyst. According to the description of the post, it is a hidden camera recording of private conversations, without the knowledge of the participants.
The director of the Office of the President of the Republic Charalambos Charalambous, the former minister George Lakkotrypis and the CEO of the Cyfield company George Chrysochoos appear in the material. The talks reportedly took place in the context of a meeting with persons who presented themselves as investment fund managers, who expressed an interest in investing €150 million in the energy sector. Mr. Lakkotrypis, according to information from the Cypriot Media, participates in the board of directors of a company active in the specific sector and met with the alleged investors in this capacity.
Can’t even describe what I just received!
🚨 BREAKING BOMBSHELL VIDEO EXPOSES CYPRUS PRESIDENT’S SHADOW CASH MACHINE!
President Nikos Christodoulides allegedly SMASHED the €1M campaıgn fınance cap vıa a sneaky family network!
Brother-in-law Charalambos Charalambous (Director of…— Emily Thompson (@EmilyTanalyst)
Part of the talks are general references to campaign finance and statutory caps. In an excerpt included in the video, there is talk of the allowed limit of around €1 million in presidential elections, as well as exceeding it through the use of cash, without making a specific connection to persons or documented actions. These reports are presented in fragments, while, according to Cypriot media, the material is allegedly edited, without fully rendering the placements as a whole.
In the same context, discussions concerning the way investors can access the Presidential environment are recorded, with general references to informal communication procedures, as well as contributions that could appear as sponsorships or Corporate Social Responsibility actions. The conversations also talk about alleged kickbacks, at a theoretical level and without specific reference to persons, amounts or proven actions.
At the same time, the material includes statements by Mr. Chrysochou regarding the frequency of communication and his personal relationship with the President of the Republic, as they are transcribed, without any documentation of illegal acts emerging from the content.
According to information from the Cypriot Media, Mr. Lakkotrypis is reported to have reported to TAE Nicosia that the visual material resulted from stitching together passages in a way that creates a specific narrative and suggests illegal cash handling. So far, it has not been clarified who recorded the video nor the exact circumstances of the recording.
The content of the material is said to be known to the persons who appear in it, while it is not excluded that there may be further actions or complaints to the competent authorities. The issue arises at a time of increased political interest, a few days after the assumption of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Statement by the government representative Constantinos Letympiotis
In a written statement, the government representative in Nicosia states: “In the last few hours, a video has been circulating, which, based on the first assessment of the competent state agency, is characterized as malicious and a product of editing.
The video in question attempts to damage the image of the government and the country through false, misleading claims and arbitrary conclusions.”
In a subsequent statement he states: “Based on further investigation and information already collected by the competent agency, a case of hybrid activity against the Republic of Cyprus is being considered. The Attorney General and the Chief of Police have been informed.”
The reactions
EDEK requests a full investigation into the video that casts shadows on the financing of President Christodoulidis.
Annita Dimitriou: I expect the competent authorities to do the obvious
For some time now, a video has been playing that implicates individuals and the government in illegal practices. I hope it doesn’t correspond to reality. I expect the competent authorities to do the obvious.
— Annita Demetriou (@AnnitaDemetriou)
Irini Charalambidou: There must be a placement immediately
If I understood correctly, we are watching a shocking video that we see and do not believe because the government and the businessmen around it are the protagonists! There must be a position immediately because we will have worse than the resignation of the Assistant and the ridiculous! Now…
— Irene Charalambides (@Xaralambidou)
Stefanos Stefanou: The video raises serious institutional and political issues
The video circulating on social media related to funding involving the Christodoulidis Government raises serious institutional and political issues to which the Government must provide clear answers. We are waiting and will be back.
— Stefanos Stefanou (@ststefanou)
