Cyprus president’s top aide quits after online video alleging government corruption
NICOSIA, Cyprus —
A close aide to the President of Cyprus has stepped down following the emergence of a controversial online video. The video strongly implies that the aide, along with others, leveraged their connections to the president to secure favors for potential investors in exchange for monetary gain.
President Nikos Christodoulides has confirmed the resignation of Charalambos Charalambous, the director of his presidential office and his brother-in-law. Christodoulides expressed confidence that the accusations are baseless and emphasized Charalambous’ integrity and dedication to his work.
Charalambous, in a statement on Facebook, vehemently denied any wrongdoing and denounced the video as a distorted representation of the truth. He asserted that he would never allow his position in government to be used for malicious purposes.
The video in question features Charalambous and a former energy minister discussing their influence over the president and their ability to secure foreign investments. It also alleges that President Christodoulides accepted off-the-books donations for his upcoming presidential campaign, exceeding legal funding limits.
Furthermore, the video suggests that the Cypriot government may have engaged in unethical practices to block EU sanctions against Russian oligarchs in exchange for financial contributions.
Authorities in Cyprus have labeled the video as a targeted disinformation campaign, potentially orchestrated by Russian operatives. The emergence of the video coincided with Cyprus assuming the EU presidency, prompting concerns about external interference.
President Christodoulides revealed that the EU had warned Cyprus about potential hybrid attacks during its presidency. Collaborative efforts with EU members and other countries are underway to investigate the origins of the video.
Despite these developments, opposition parties have seized upon the video to renew allegations of widespread corruption within the government.
