The VideoGate affair has triggered a fresh political dispute in Cyprus following a supplementary statement by independent criminal investigator Andreas Paschalides regarding the conclusions of his report.
Mr Paschalides argued that attempts were being made to distort his findings for political reasons and clarified that he had recommended to the Attorney General the prosecution of politically exposed persons and others for offences related to the Council of Europe Convention on the Criminalisation of Corruption.
The statement caused confusion, as the published version of the report states that the evidence gathered so far does not indicate any breach of the Criminal Code by the Cypriot individuals involved. At the same time, it refers to possible violations of anti-corruption legislation, regarding which the investigative team had expressed reservations.
Mr Paschalides’s reappointment for a third term at the Independent Authority for the Investigation of Allegations and Complaints against the Police has also sparked criticism.
The criminal investigator now insists that, after assessing the evidence and the relevant case law, he concluded that criminal offences had been committed under the law ratifying the anti-corruption convention and that he had recommended prosecutions. At the same time, however, the report describes some of the statements heard in the video in question as “empty talk” and “bluster”, intended to impress and secure financial gain.
Mr Paschalides’s reappointment for a third term at the Independent Authority for the Investigation of Allegations and Complaints against the Police has also drawn criticism. DISY, AKEL and ALMA have raised objections, with AKEL citing a conflict of interest.
Parliament’s Committee on Institutions will hold an extraordinary meeting on 31 July and will request that the full report be submitted to Parliament so that the investigative process, the complete findings and the contradictions that have emerged can be examined.
Sοurce: Kathimerini Kiprou
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