The Government “categorically rejects” any insinuations about illegal or irregular activity involving any member of the Government, Deputy Minister to the President, Irini Piki, said on Friday, responding to questions from journalists regarding a video circulating on social media alleging access to the Government, financing and investments.
Speaking at a press conference on the results of the President of the Republic’s contacts in the US, for promoting Cyprus as an investment destination, Piki said the Government is acting in an institutional and transparent manner in terms of attracting investments, stressing that she does not believe that the video affects the image of Cyprus abroad.
She referred to yesterday’s statements by the Government Spokesperson as well as to official statements by the Spokesperson on any further developments on the matter.
Asked whether the video would negatively affect the Government’s effort to attract investments, Piki said that during the press conference, information was provided in the most institutional way on how these investments are made, what contacts are made and that there was transparency in this regard.
“I do not believe that it is something that affects Cyprus’ image, especially if we see how this video was reproduced. But we are certainly monitoring the issue”, she said, adding that “and the honour and name and reputation of our country are above everything and above anything and anyone”.
Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Nicodemos Damianou, noted that the said video should not affect this effort, which is characterised by “absolute transparency from the outset”.
Asked about the access anyone can have to the Presidential Palace, Piki said “the only thing I want to comment on is that the Government, as you know, categorically rejects any insinuation about illegal or irregular activity, which concerns any member of the Government”.
Asked about the procedure followed when someone is interested in investing and wants to contact the Presidential Palace, Piki said that the Presidential Palace does not have a specific procedure. She said that Invest Cyprus is usually the first point of contact for many investors who want to invest in Cyprus. She also referred to the business service center that has been set up for this purpose.
Asked whether private meetings are held for investments as seen in the video, Piki said that any meeting held at the Presidential Palace is not a private meeting.
The Deputy Minister to the President said that there have been cases where investors request information on procedures from her or other Ministers and officials, in their capacity as state officials, and that they generally provide this information, as well as information on the legislation on strategic investments.
She also stressed that attracting quality investments was a key objective of the Government and that, in this context, communication with the public is part of the work of Ministers and officials, underlining that such a thing cannot be considered reprehensible.
The case concerns a video that circulated on social media on Thursday that contains allegations against President Nikos Christodoulides over illegal financing during his presidential campaign.
In the meantime, the Law Office of the Republic, asked by CNA whether the case has been officially brought before it, initially said that at this stage it would “not comment on anything”. Later on Friday it informed CNA that the Law Office has given “competent authorities specific instructions”.
Police Spokesperson Vyron Vyronos told CNA on Friday that investigations were at an initial stage. Police are analysing the video but it has not yet been established whether it has been altered. The person who posted the video on their account on platform X has not yet been identified.
Parliamentary parties called for action following the video release.
