Nicosia, Cyprus. Independent criminal investigator Andreas Paschalidis said he recommended criminal prosecutions against individuals in the Videogate affair, rejecting claims that his report exonerated everyone connected to the case.
In a public statement on Thursday, Paschalidis said commentary on his findings had created a false impression that all involved had been cleared, despite his recommendation to Attorney-General George Savvides for prosecutions under legislation implementing the Council of Europe Convention on the Criminalisation of Corruption.
Response to criticism
Paschalidis said his findings identified criminal offences by a number of individuals and recommended their prosecution.
He said he responded publicly after witnessing what he described as an attempt to distort his conclusions for political purposes, as well as attacks on his personal integrity.
Scope of investigation
Paschalidis said he acted solely as a criminal investigator under specific terms of reference, rather than as the head of an investigative committee with a broader political or ethical mandate.
He said critics had failed, whether through ignorance, confusion or deliberately, to recognise the distinction between those roles.
Report publication
Paschalidis said he had no objection in principle to publication of the full report because the investigation had been completed.
However, he said releasing the findings before a decision on prosecutions could undermine the presumption of innocence.
Submission date
He rejected criticism that he had not examined political or moral aspects of the affair, saying they were outside his mandate.
Paschalidis said the report was submitted on Monday because his appointment expired that day and there was no justification for extending an investigation that had already concluded.
