The government has dismissed a video circulating on social media allegedly exposing how wealthy investors can gain access to the Presidential Palace by circumventing the law on campaign donations through cash payments, as malicious and edited.
Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Thursday the video “attempts to damage the image of the government and country through false, misleading claims and arbitrary conclusions”.
Based on an initial assessment by the competent state service, the government concluded that the video is malicious and edited, he added.
In an update, Letymbiotis said that after evidence collected by “the competent state service,” authorities are investigating a case of a hybrid attack against the Republic of Cyprus.
Former energy minister George Lakkotrypis, who appears in the footage, filed a complaint with Nicosia’s Criminal Investigation Department on Thursday.
In a written statement, Lakkotrypis said the video emerged from a fake profile and was edited to distort the context of his discussions with purported investors.
He said the editing aimed to harm not only himself but also the Republic of Cyprus and the president, and linked the leak to the timing of Cyprus assuming the presidency of the Council of the European Union.
His full statement reads:
“Regarding a video that circulated today from a fake profile on platform X, in which I appear to be discussing ways of financing the president of the Republic’s electoral campaign with purported investors, I would like to state the following:
“It is evident from the video that the statements attributed to me have been edited to distort the context of the discussions, with the ultimate aim of damaging our country, the president of the Republic himself and me personally. It is no coincidence that the video was leaked one day after the opening ceremony of the Cypriot presidency of the Council of the EU.
“I have already filed a complaint with Nicosia CID, to which I will hand over all the evidence I have at my disposal.”
Can't even describe what I just received!
🚨 BREAKING BOMBSHELL VIDEO EXPOSES CYPRUS PRESIDENT'S SHADOW CASH MACHINE!
President Nikos Christodoulides allegedly SMASHED the €1M campaıgn fınance cap vıa a sneaky family network!
Brother-in-law Charalambos Charalambous (Director of… pic.twitter.com/B9YDR1Y3T3— Emily Thompson (@EmilyTanalyst) January 8, 2026
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.
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