Nicosia, Cyprus. Questions over the handling of the Videogate investigation intensified on Friday as independent criminal investigator Andreas Paschalides acknowledged he may have erred in the wording of statements issued after submitting his findings to attorney-general George Savvides.
Committee scrutiny
The House institutions committee held an extraordinary meeting to examine Paschalides’ public statements following his report on the Videogate recordings produced by Black Cube.
MPs also questioned the legal service’s decision not to provide the investigative file while criminal investigations remain ongoing.
Committee chairman Demetris Demetriou said Paschalides’ first statement had prompted parliament’s intervention, while his second statement had created more questions than answers.
Demetriou challenged the investigator over references to a “hybrid attack”, apparent contradictions concerning possible offences and his decision to issue public statements before Savvides had completed his assessment.
Legal service position
Deputy attorney-general Savvas Angelides said the legal service respected parliament’s oversight role but also had a duty to protect an active criminal investigation.
“The paradox, and I think this is the first time this has happened, is that we are within the framework of the investigation. It has however not been completed, and now the House is coming to exercise control,” he said.
Angelides said Savvides could still order further investigative work, bring prosecutions or determine that there was insufficient evidence.
He warned that public discussion of the case created “a serious possibility of influencing the process”.
After presenting the legal service’s position, Angelides declined to answer questions on the substance of the investigation and left the committee room.