Explosive video sparks corruption scandal in Cyprus amid EU presidency

A purportedly leaked video posted on social media platform X has ignited a fierce political controversy in Cyprus, accusing President Nikos Christodoulides of circumventing campaign finance laws through a shadowy family network during his 2023 presidential bid.

The footage, which surfaced just one day after Cyprus assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, has drawn sharp denials from implicated officials, who claim it’s a maliciously edited smear campaign – possibly bearing a “Russian fingerprint” as suggested by one government source amid suspicions of foreign interference.

The video, shared by an account under the name Emily Thompson @EmilyTanalyst, alleges that Christodoulides “smashed” the €1 million legal cap on campaign spending via undisclosed cash contributions funneled through relatives and associates.

It features hidden-camera recordings of conversations involving the president’s brother-in-law, Charalambos Charalambous (director of the Presidential Office), former Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis, and Cyfield Group CEO Giorgos Chrysochos, with individuals posing as Dutch investors interested in Cypriot opportunities.

In the clips, Lakkotrypis is heard discussing the €1 million funding limit, noting that exceeding it sometimes requires “relying on cash.”

Charalambous describes himself and others as “main points of contact” at the Presidential Palace, suggesting investors could gain access by framing contributions as corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

Chrysochos boasts of close ties, saying, “If I call him now, he will answer,” and “He’s like my girlfriend,” while claiming frequent private meetings every two weeks and a deliberate avoidance of public appearances to prevent perceptions of favoritism.

The video also implicates the president’s wife, Philippa Karsera-Christodoulides, who heads the Independent Social Support Body, in allegedly channeling large donations from tycoons in exchange for preferential treatment.

The video also alleges that a company associated with the presidential circle provides assistance to sanctioned Russian oligarchs in evading EU sanctions, in exchange for substantial payments that are then funneled as cash to the government or campaign.

The timing of the release – coinciding with the start of Cyprus’ high-profile EU stint – has fuelled speculation of orchestrated disinformation.

Speaking to EUalive, Andreas Mavroyiannis, former Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the European Union, revealed long-standing suspicions about President Nikos Christodoulides’ campaign financing.”We always suspected that he had access to large illegal funds,” Mavroyiannis said. “[…] I have good reasons to believe that these substantial illegal contributions are indeed real. There is also the added factor of Russian backlash—having reportedly provided him with huge sums during his campaign, they now feel betrayed and sold out. The timing of this video’s release is hardly coincidental.”

Mavroyiannis has run as presidential candidate against Christodoulides.

Chrysochos, speaking to Politis, clarified that his “girlfriend” comment referred not to Christodoulides but to another unnamed political figure, insisting the video was manipulated and unrelated to presidential funding.

He confirmed meetings with the purported investors but emphasized Cyfield’s legitimate CSR spending, including €10,000 annually to the First Lady’s organization.

The Presidential Office has condemned the video as “malicious” and “edited,” urging authorities to investigate its origins.

House Speaker Annita Demetriou, leader of the Democratic Rally (DISY), expressed hope that the footage “does not reflect reality” and called on competent authorities to act swiftly.

As the video continues to circulate – garnering over 87,000 views and hundreds of engagements – the scandal threatens to overshadow Cyprus’ EU presidency agenda, which includes priorities like migration, energy, regional stability and support to Ukraine.

With Politis.

Caption: Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides (R) welcomes the European Commision President Ursula Von Der Leyen (L) for the official ceremony of EU Council Presidency in Nicosia, Cyprus, 07 January 2026. On January 7, 2026, Cyprus officially celebrated the start of its six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union with a high-level ceremony in Nicosia. Although its formal term began on January 1, 2026, the official opening ceremony served as a major diplomatic event. EPA/GEORGE CHRISTOPHOROU