Following the circulation of a video yesterday on the X.com platform, which has prompted widespread political and public reaction, former Rector of the University of Cyprus Konstantinos Christofides released a written statement addressing the content of the video and its broader implications for governance, institutions, and national security.
Full Statement
This is not editing. It is decay.
When a President places his personal dealings above the interests of the country, we are no longer talking about weakness. We are talking about danger. Like his predecessor, he exposes and humiliates internationally the country he represents. His remaining in power is not a matter of political disagreement. It is a matter of institutional self-defence. His departure is not an option. It is an imperative necessity.
The reaction “it’s edited” does not convince. It is panic, the last line of defence of those who cannot refute the substance. The truth does not fit into filters. It circulates uncontrollably and exposes all those who tried to hide it.
The video involving Mr Charalambous is shocking. His naivety and irresponsibility raise the question of whether he understands the gravity of what he is saying. Mr Giorgos Lakkotrypis appears like a minor schoolboy revealing fraud and manoeuvres without restraint. And yet, this man once had in his hands one of the country’s most critical sectors: energy. The thought is terrifying.
But the crisis is not only moral. It is institutional. Businessmen enter the Presidential Palace whenever they wish, find open doors and immediate responses depending on their “gifts”. This is not simply unethical. It is degenerative for democracy and dangerous for the state.
And worst of all: national security is at risk. When close associates are trapped so easily and speak recklessly, the question is not rhetorical: who is protecting state secrets? And in whose hands are they?
The timing of the publication of the video is suspicious. During the period of the Cypriot presidency, it appears that the aim was to damage the country’s credibility. The President had a duty to protect the country and the prestige of the office he represents.
And let us not forget the beginning: Nikos Christodoulides entered politics by copying another person’s speech. The deception was evident from the very first moment. Society chose not to listen then. Today, the entire country is paying the price.
The time for silence has passed.
The time for responsibility has arrived.
And the country can no longer endure.
Konstantinos Christofides
Former Rector, University of Cyprus