Woman behind the 'Santi' persona breaks silence on legal and political scandal

A woman known as 'Santi,' a central figure in a major legal and political scandal in Cyprus and Greece, has publicly spoken out for the first time via a written statement to the Cyprus Times. She admits to creating the fictional persona and choosing to participate in the affair, which allegedly involved discussions with lawyer Nikos Clerides and interactions with journalists Stelios Orphanides and Makarios Drousiotis. She explicitly denies allegations that she was coerced, bribed, or manipulated by third parties, despite the significant political repercussions of the case.

The criminal case, filed in July 2026, involves 101 charges against 'Santi' and Makarios Drousiotis. These charges include the creation and circulation of forged documents, dissemination of fake news, and harassment. The woman stated that her involvement evolved from informal discussions into the assumption of the 'Santi' role, which eventually became difficult to abandon. She has invited Makarios Drousiotis to authorize an independent technical review of the message logs to clarify the truth, though she notes that her personal narrative differs from various interpretations presented in the media.

While the judicial process is ongoing, the woman maintains that her actions were personal choices. She continues to address the complexities of the case as legal proceedings move forward, focusing on the sequence of events that began around 2020.