Attorney General George Savvides has informed parliament that the report prepared by criminal investigator Andreas Paschalides in the high-profile Videogate case will not be submitted to the House Ethics Committee, while witnesses connected to the investigation will not answer MPs' questions because the criminal inquiry remains ongoing.
In a letter to House Speaker Annita Demetriou, revealed by Politis, Savvides effectively reshaped the agenda of Friday's extraordinary meeting of the House Ethics Committee, which had been convened to examine the Videogate affair and Paschalides' findings.
The attorney general made clear that the report would not be transmitted to parliament and that neither Paschalides nor police officers summoned to the session could answer questions relating to the case.
Attorney general's legal position
In his letter, Savvides urged committee members to take into account the following considerations:
1. The criminal investigation remains ongoing.
Part of the investigative work has not yet been completed, while other aspects are awaiting assessment and decisions by the Legal Service.
2. Public discussion of the investigation could affect proceedings.
Any discussion of investigative work or disclosure of evidence outside the competent court, should the case ultimately proceed to trial, risks influencing both the investigation and the fundamental rights of those involved.
3. Witnesses cannot answer questions.
Individuals summoned before the committee who possess knowledge of the case cannot respond to questions or present documents relating to the investigation because doing so could affect the administration of justice.
4. Additional legal restrictions apply to the report.
Savvides said there are further legal reasons, based on legislation and case law, preventing the presentation or disclosure of the investigator's report, although he did not elaborate on those reasons at this stage.
"The above constitute my legal positions and I expect they will be taken seriously so that any parliamentary procedures and/or decisions operate within the framework of the Constitution," Savvides wrote.
Will the committee accept the position?
Despite the attorney general's intervention, members of the House Ethics Committee appear determined to seek explanations from Paschalides regarding key aspects of his findings.
MPs who spoke to Politis argued that the investigator should not be able to "hide" behind Savvides' letter because, in their view, there remain issues of political and institutional importance that require clarification.
Among the questions lawmakers are expected to raise are:
Hybrid warfare conclusion
MPs want to know how Paschalides concluded that Videogate may have formed part of a hybrid warfare operation against the Republic of Cyprus, with references reportedly pointing towards Russia.
The question arises because the person or persons who financed the operation carried out by intelligence firm Black Cube have not yet been identified.
At the same time, Black Cube has maintained that the approximately 26 hours of recorded material were intended to expose potential corruption and did not constitute a hybrid warfare operation.
Paschalides has already obtained an extension until the end of the year to continue efforts to identify the individuals behind the funding of the operation.
Authenticity of the video
Questions have also been raised regarding Paschalides' conclusion that the eight-minute video clip published on 8 January 2026 on X did not constitute an authentic representation of events.
Critics are asking how that conclusion can be supported when the entire unedited 26-hour recording had previously been examined and verified as authentic by the Legal Service.
Verification of the material's authenticity was a prerequisite for evaluating the case and obtaining statements from Black Cube personnel.
Immunity agreement with Black Cube
MPs are also expected to seek clarification on why an immunity agreement was granted to Black Cube by the attorney general and deputy attorney general, in cooperation with the criminal investigator, before the person who financed the operation had been identified.
Political fallout
As DISY recently argued, regardless of the outcome of the criminal investigation, the affair has already carried political consequences for the Christodoulides administration.
The party points to the resignation of Charalambos Charalambous, director of the president's office, the departure of First Lady Philippa Karsera from the Social Support Foundation, and the subsequent abolition of the fund following a decision by parliament.
