Nicosia, Cyprus. The criminal investigation into the Videogate affair is entering its final stage, with independent criminal investigator Andreas Paschalides expected to submit his findings to attorney-general George Savvides on June 16. Legal experts said any decision on criminal proceedings will rest with the legal service.
Legal assessment to determine next steps
Speaking on Wednesday, lawyer Simos Angelides said public discussion surrounding the anticipated findings should not assume that prosecutions will automatically follow, even if the investigator identifies evidence of criminal offences.
He said it was not automatic that a case would proceed if the criminal investigator found evidence of offences. Angelides said the legal service would be required to carry out its own independent assessment of the evidence and decide whether any offences were sufficiently established to justify further action.
Call for publication of findings
Angelides also said the findings should be made public once the process is completed, adding that transparency would allow the public to assess both the investigator’s conclusions and any subsequent decisions taken by prosecutors.
Background to the investigation
The report will conclude a months-long investigation launched after the publication of a video in January that appeared to show conversations involving former chief of staff and Christodoulides’ brother-in-law Charalambos Charalambous, former energy minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis and Cyfield chief executive Giorgos Chrysochos.
The conversations concerned alleged “pay-to-play” patronage of donors, campaign financing and a €150 million investment linked to the Vasiliko power plant.
Resignations and responses
Charalambous resigned from his position, while First Lady Philippa Karsera stepped down as chair of the now disbanded Social Support Agency after references to the organisation appeared in the published material.
From the outset, the president rejected the allegations and described the video as “a product of fabrication, distortion and a hybrid attack”.
Those appearing in the footage also maintained that the material had been selectively edited and presented out of context.
Black Cube confirms involvement
The Israeli private intelligence company Black Cube publicly confirmed that it was behind the operation which produced the recordings.
