Former minister files complaint over video alleging illegal Christodoulides campaign cash

Former energy minister George Lakkotrypis filed a complaint with Nicosia’s Criminal Investigation Department over edited video footage circulating on social media platform X that shows him discussing Nikos Christodoulides’ 2023 presidential campaign.

The footage presents his statements in a way that suggests cash was used beyond the legally permitted €1 million campaign spending limit for Christodoulides’ electoral team.

The video also presents the position that the cash was managed by Christodoulides’ brother-in-law and later presidential office director, Charalambos Charalambous.

Sources stated that the footage has been edited and does not show his full statements.

The video, lasting approximately eight minutes, was published on an account named Emily Thompson, who presents herself as an independent researcher, analyst and lecturer focused on US foreign and domestic policy.

Lakkotrypis reportedly told Nicosia CID that his statements were spliced together to serve a specific narrative and make it appear he was saying illegal cash was being circulated, sources told Phileleftheros.

Those who recorded Lakkotrypis presented themselves as investment fund managers, according to sources. They had met with the former minister as interested parties wanting to invest €150 million on behalf of the investment fund in the energy sector. Lakkotrypis serves on the board of directors of an energy sector company and met the purported investors in that capacity.

Philenews is publishing the video as it circulated on platform X, clarifying that it does not adopt anything from its content. However, in the interests of the public and because the matter has already been referred to police for investigation, we are obliged to inform our readership.

Posted on