The wife of the President of the Republic of Cyprus decided to seek legal advice after a “relentless attack” she received on social media with “” At the same time, as she announced in a post on Facebook, she will leave the Administrative Committee of the Independent Social Support Agency (AFKS), in order, as she said, to protect the morality and integrity of herself and her family.
It was preceded by the one containing reports of illegal financing in view of the election campaign for 2028, with him in a strong tone and calling on anyone who has evidence to submit it, while suspicions of intervention by foreign forces are also mentioned.
“With sadness and particular concern, I have been watching for the last 24 hours, me and my children, a merciless attack on the NCDs with the spread of false news, defamatory comments, allegations of wrongdoing from personal accounts, named and anonymous”, reports Ms. Karsera for her part.
She notes that there is also the risk of further dissemination and indiscriminate mass reproduction of the abuses and unfounded claims, which will constitute defamation and a violation of her and her family’s human rights.
“The fact that I am the wife of the President of the Republic of Cyprus is not an excuse or mitigation for these non-existent attacks and accusations,” she says.
“Because as a person I deeply believe that defending our rights is not just a right, but an obligation and that we must fight and show no tolerance for such phenomena, I have already sought legal advice,” he adds.
He also mentions that from the moment he took over, faithfully observing the legislation adopted in 2015 by the House of Representatives, as president of the Management Committee of the Independent Social Support Agency (March 2023) and especially after strengthening his budget and providing scholarships to many more children from needy families, in 2024 and 2025, the war became merciless.
He notes that tomorrow, the Administrative Committee of AFKS will hold an extraordinary meeting, which he will inform about his decision to leave the Committee.
“Not because I don’t want to continue helping the children, that was the only motivation for my action from the beginning, but because I will not allow anyone to continue to undermine the morals and integrity, mine, my husband’s and my family’s, under the pretext of the operation of AFKS, from which no member of the Management Committee has the slightest personal benefit,” he writes.
She adds that she decided to take the same attitude with regard to the other charitable organizations in which she gladly accepted to be executive president, to help in their action, as previous First Ladies did.
“We must all not allow persons with non-existent claims to be published for political, partisan, vote-seeking purposes. This is not culture or political ethos, nor a way to win the sympathy of the people. On the contrary,” he says.
It expresses the belief that the world understands the truth and that justice always prevails.
“We don’t need official qualities and titles to help, nor do we need to be party officials. It is enough that we remain People who have God in them and in their lives they walk for what is right and just”, he says.
As a mother, she adds, “I will always defend my family, as an active citizen I will continue to stand by all the children and the vulnerable who need me, quietly, discreetly and selflessly, faithfully observing the law and defending the human rights of all.”
Absolute transparency and accountability in AFKS
At the same time, he explains that, as was also said by the Accountant General, who is by law the Treasurer of AFKS, in the Parliament and in the media, AFKS is a special state fund with an account at the Central Bank, it has been operating since 2015 according to law, and the sponsorships are made by bank deposit. It clarifies that there is no cash, no way to access the account, or misuse it.
The Treasurer, he adds, is the Accountant General of the State, the Auditor General controls and all the data is filed for control and there is a name of the sponsors for control purposes.
“There is absolute transparency and accountability. In no audit by the Auditor General or private auditors appointed by him, the slightest irregularity or illegality was detected. There is no way of leaking money, there are no financial transactions, all the money that is in the special account becomes scholarships for children who are studying,” he emphasizes.
He adds that all the criteria are on the AFKS website. He notes that thousands of children have benefited and hundreds expect to receive their scholarships again this year.
He also emphasizes that all the data is in the General Accounting Office of the State and there is no relationship between the Administrative Committee of AFKS and the sponsoring companies, nor is the Administrative Committee aware of any of their activities.
He also mentions that the decision to have the First Lady preside over AFKS was made in 2015 when the law was adopted by the House of Representatives. So are the rules on control and disclosure.
It also notes that from March 2023, on its own initiative, all information, criteria, beneficiaries, contribution payment methods, company logos will be posted on the AFKS website (www.socialsupport.gov.cy) and the Administrative Committee is constantly studying ways to enhance transparency, taking into account the recommendations of the Auditor General and respecting the relevant decision of the Supreme Constitutional Court.
