Video Crisis In South Cyprus: Allegations Of Evading Sanctions Through Cash Donations

South Cyprus police on Friday opened an investigation into a video that has caused a political storm in the Republic of Cyprus, alleging that Nikos Christodoulides and some of his close associates breached laws governing election campaign financing. Police spokesperson Vyron Vyronos said the investigation was initiated after a complaint was lodged regarding the video.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Vyronos said: “We received a complaint yesterday and have begun certain examinations. However, at this stage it is not possible to say exactly what our units are doing.” He added that former minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis, who is named in the video, is expected to give a statement to police.

Vyronos noted that evidence would be gathered prior to Lakkotrypis’s formal testimony, but said no details could yet be shared regarding the scope of the investigation. “We cannot at this point explain precisely what is being investigated or which offences may be involved. The picture will become clearer once the official statement is taken. We are still at a very early stage,” he said.

Asked whether the video may have been edited or manipulated, Vyronos said it was too early to make such an assessment. He stressed that any potential offences would emerge during the investigation process and that police are currently examining what criminal elements, if any, can be derived from the footage.

The video was shared on Thursday on the social media platform X by an account using the username “EmilyTanalyst” and the name “Emily Thompson”. At the time of posting, the account had fewer than 350 followers, a figure that rose to over 950 within a short period. The video itself has been viewed more than 250,000 times.

The footage allegedly shows Christodoulides’s close aides — Presidential Office Director Haralambos Haralambous and former minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis — explaining how election campaign finance laws could be circumvented through cash donations. It further claims that capital holders at risk of being placed on international sanctions lists were assured protection from European Union sanctions in exchange for donations made to Christodoulides.

The same video also alleges that Giorgos Chrysochos, CEO of the Cyfield construction company, stated that he pays €250,000 annually in return for access to the government.

According to platform information, the account that shared the video was created in 2022 and is reportedly based in the United Kingdom. The government has rejected the allegations, insisting that no wrongdoing has taken place.