The ALMA Movement - Citizens for Cyprus has renewed its criticism of the government following the recent session of the House Institutions Committee on the Videogate affair, arguing that key questions remain unanswered and directing particular criticism at Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki.
In a statement, the movement claimed that the committee proceedings confirmed what it described as the central issue in the case, namely that the conversations contained in the disputed video were authentic and were not generated using artificial intelligence.
ALMA also referred to the position taken by the criminal investigator who examined the case. According to the movement, the investigator initially described the recorded discussions as "nonsense and babbling," but later acknowledged that the same conduct could potentially point to criminal offences related to influence peddling.
The movement further claimed that no evidence was presented to substantiate assertions that the incident constituted a "hybrid attack."
References to the controversial video
In its statement, ALMA revisited claims contained in the disputed footage, including references to Charalambos Charalambous, then Director of the Office of the President.
According to the movement, Mr Charalambous appeared in the video as one of the main channels of access to the Presidential Palace.
ALMA said the footage portrayed Mr Charalambous as offering to arrange a meeting with the President and assuring the purported investor that, if difficulties arose regarding applications linked to the Cyfield power station project at Mari, he would intervene so that priority would be given to them.
The movement also repeated claims that the businessman featured in the video described his relationship with the Minister of Energy as particularly close, allegedly referring to the minister as his "girlfriend".
Auditor General's report raised again
ALMA also directed criticism towards the Law Office of the Republic, arguing that no explanation was provided during the committee session as to why an Audit Office report concerning the same power station project at Mari has, according to the movement, remained without any visible action for approximately eighteen months.
According to ALMA, the report did not only concern alleged irregularities involving the company, but also recorded the role of the Director General of the Ministry of the Interior in what it described as efforts to retrospectively legitimise those actions.
The movement argued that the contents of the video and the findings contained in the Audit Office report together raise what it called a "single and extremely serious issue", linking alleged political intervention regarding the company's applications with matters identified by the Audit Office.
Questions directed at Irene Piki
ALMA also criticised Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki, alleging that she declined to answer questions relating to the Director General concerned.
According to the movement, the unanswered questions were:
- Whether any potential disciplinary responsibilities of the Director General had been examined.
- Why, instead of being held accountable, he was promoted and assigned expanded responsibilities within the Presidency.
- Whether reports by a journalist regarded as close to the Presidential Palace are accurate in suggesting that he is being considered for a future appointment to the Public Service Commission.
ALMA's position
The movement concluded by stating that "Videogate now constitutes an indelible stain on the Christodoulides government."
The allegations and questions cited in ALMA's statement reflect the movement's position on the matter. The article does not indicate that the government, the Presidency, Deputy Minister Irene Piki or the individuals mentioned responded to the claims in the statement.
