Investigation concludes into the Videogate scandal in Cyprus

Independent Criminal Investigator Andreas Paschalides submitted his findings on the 'Videogate' case to the Attorney General on July 17, 2026. The investigation, which began in January 2026 following a video posted by the 'Emily Thompson' account on platform X, concluded that the footage was edited and lacked authenticity, rendering it inadmissible as evidence. Paschalides determined that the Cypriot figures featured in the video were engaging in 'empty rhetoric' for personal gain, and found no evidence of criminal acts under the Penal Code. The investigator suggested the video was part of a coordinated campaign, likely originating abroad, intended to harm the Republic of Cyprus shortly after it assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Consequently, the Attorney General extended Paschalides's appointment until December 31, 2026, to allow for further investigation into the origin, motivations, and commissioning entities behind the video production. This secondary phase aims to identify those responsible for the creation of the content, which allegedly stems from operations dating back to 2021.