Attorney general blocks release of Videogate findings to parliament

Attorney General Giorgos Savvides has officially informed the Cypriot Parliament that the criminal investigation report regarding the 'Videogate' affair, compiled by investigator Andreas Paschalides, will not be submitted to the House Ethics Committee. In a letter sent ahead of an extraordinary session scheduled for this Friday, Savvides emphasized that both the investigator and police officials are prohibited from answering questions related to the ongoing case. The Attorney General cited the need to protect the integrity of the pending legal proceedings and the fundamental rights of the individuals involved, warning that public discussion of investigative findings could compromise future court proceedings.

The Videogate controversy stems from a video published in January that allegedly depicts influence peddling by associates of President Nikos Christodoulides. The House Ethics Committee had summoned various officials, including police leadership, representatives of the Justice Ministry, the head of the anti-corruption authority, and an attorney from the private intelligence firm Black Cube, to testify. Despite the Attorney General's directive, Dimitris Dimitriou, the chairman of the committee, confirmed that the closed-door meeting will proceed as planned to discuss the matter within the limits of the law.