Intense political turmoil has been sparked by a video leaked on the platform X, which appears to depict conversations related to campaign financing involving figures from the political sphere.
The government spokesperson from the Presidential Palace called the video “malicious and edited.” They said its goal is to harm the government’s image with misleading claims. Initial checks by relevant services suggest that the material is manipulated and targets both the President and the country’s institutions.
The former Minister of Energy, George Lakkotrypis, who is in the video, strongly denied the claims. He said, “it’s clear that my statements have been edited” to twist the context of conversations and hurt political institutions. He also filed an official complaint with Nicosia CID about the leak and promised to share all available evidence.
The political clash grew with statements from the opposition. Annita Demetriou, president of DISY and Parliament, mentioned that the video “involves individuals and the government in illegal practices” and called for a full investigation by the right authorities, hoping that it doesn’t reflect reality.
Stefanos Stefanou, Secretary General of AKEL, pointed out that the video “raises serious institutional and political issues” and urged authorities to act quickly, asking for clear answers from the government. Other opposition MPs also reacted, like Eirini Charalambidou, who found the material shocking and demanded an immediate public statement. Members from other parties accused the executive branch of being opaque and asked for clarifications from the government spokesperson.
The controversial video, shared by an account named Emily Thompson, includes talks with people like the Director of the President’s Office, former minister Lakkotrypis, and a CEO of a big private company. It reportedly mentions funding issues and “investors.” Government sources strongly dispute this content, while the opposition demands a full investigation and transparency from the right authorities.
