Nicosia was informed three to four months ago by Brussels about the possibility of hybrid threats ahead of its assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Deputy Government Spokesman Yiannis Antoniou stated.
Speaking on state radio, Antoniou said the video that has been made public is a “combination of real footage with edited sound and image.” He added there are serious indications of malicious and bad-faith editing, with strong characteristics of organized propaganda.
Referring to the protagonists in the video, Antoniou clarified that he represents only the President of the Republic, whose instructions were clear: “If any reprehensible action is found to have been committed by his Office Director, Charalambos Charalambous will cease to be by the President’s side.”
Antoniou stated that the President of the Republic is being attacked on his most valuable characteristic—his honesty—and once again called on anyone who possesses evidence against him to officially submit it to the authorities for investigation.
He also urged caution, stressing that the cloud currently hanging over the Republic of Cyprus, as the incoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, must be managed. He described it as unfortunate that some are rushing to adopt the content of a video whose authenticity is still under investigation.