The publication of the statement by the Israeli company Black Cube regarding the Videogate leak raises a series of questions that remain unanswered so far. Companies engaged in surveillance activities rarely appear publicly to acknowledge their operations, and even more rarely do they provide details about their targets.
The statement
First, it is important to review the statement issued by Black Cube in response to the Politis report published last Friday, which revealed the company’s activity in Cyprus. “Black Cube is a private intelligence firm which provides bespoke services exclusively to clients engaged in business activities worldwide, supporting litigations, arbitrations and white-collar crime cases. Black Cube obtains legal advice in every jurisdiction in which it operates to ensure the legality of its activities.
Corruption is a phenomenon that harms economies and impedes legitimate business activity. Black Cube is proud to have uncovered corruption allegedly committed by Cyfield in Cyprus and to contribute to the creation of a cleaner business environment. Black Cube has cooperated with the Cypriot authorities and is confident that they will reach the truth and bring those responsible to justice. Black Cube will continue to uncover fraud, corruption and asset misappropriation in all its cases worldwide, as it has successfully done for the past 15 years.”
Questions and observations
First, and most importantly, the statement suggests that there is no hybrid threat against Cyprus, as claimed by the Christodoulides government, but rather interpersonal interests and an effort to expose certain business figures.
Second, it is surprising that a company specialising in secret and highly specialised missions would publicly confirm the video and even take responsibility for it with a tone of pride.
Third, the company comments on and frames how the viewer should interpret the video. The video features George Lakkotrypis, former Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Charalambos Charalambous, Director of the Office of the President of the Republic, and George Chrysochos, Director of Cyfield. Black Cube identifies Cyfield as the sole source of the alleged corruption.
Business circles question whether the company that recorded the video is attempting to clear the two associates of the President while attributing responsibility solely to the company, and if so, why.
The complexity of the issue
In its statement, Black Cube reveals another significant point beyond its expression of pride: it claims to have cooperated with the Cypriot authorities and expresses confidence that they will reach the truth and bring those responsible to justice.
What truth is the company referring to? What offences are alleged to have been committed, and how did the cooperation with the government take place? Did the cooperation consist only of handing over the videos, or were other actions involved?
The President of the Republic or the government spokesperson are expected to address this issue or deny the claims made by the Israeli company. Otherwise, they remain exposed to serious political questions.
If the government does not deny that cooperation took place with Black Cube, it could be interpreted as suggesting that the government of Cyprus is implicated in the alleged corruption, according to claims attributed to the Israeli company.
Cyfield
Politis requested a response from Cyfield regarding Black Cube’s statement. The company replied that it will respond at a later stage.“We will certainly respond, but after the completion of the investigation by Mr Paschalides,” the company said.
What Black Cube is
According to its website, Black Cube was founded in 2011 by “veterans of Israel’s elite intelligence units”. The company claims to be “the world’s leading intelligence firm”, having operated in more than 540 cases across 75 countries, with agents who speak 30 languages. Regarding its methodology, the company states that it conducts “highly sophisticated and creative intelligence operations” using HUMINT methodology, meaning human intelligence collection, based on experience in Israeli intelligence services and supported by OSINT capabilities and advanced technology.
Its team, according to the company, consists of former intelligence officers, lawyers and agents of the Mossad with diverse backgrounds, who operate as “social engineers”, creating complex scenarios to collect evidence in international legal disputes and white-collar crime cases. The company also states that its methods comply with the laws of each country and that its findings are intended solely for lawful use.
Despite its claims regarding ethics, the company has faced criticism at times. On 26 March 2026, the Associated Press reported that Slovenia’s intelligence service confirmed “undeniable foreign interference” in the country’s parliamentary elections. According to a government statement, findings were presented regarding activities by Black Cube that were described as counterintelligence operations and foreign interference.
Politico reported that agents of the company were accused of leaking recordings aimed at undermining the government of Prime Minister Robert Golob by linking it to alleged corruption. Similar accusations have been raised in other countries, and the company has also been associated with high-profile cases, including the Harvey Weinstein affair.