AG approves two-month extension into ‘Videogate’ probe

Investigators examining the Videogate case have been granted a two-month extension to complete their inquiry, with authorities confirming on Monday that the full, unedited video at the centre of the controversy has now been secured and is under evaluation.

Independent criminal investigator Andreas Paschalides submitted the request for additional time, which was accepted by attorney-general George Savvides, extending the original deadline that had been due to expire on Easter Monday.

The decision follows ongoing investigative activity as authorities seek to establish both the authenticity of the footage and the circumstances surrounding its publication.

In a written statement issued after a meeting with the legal service on Monday, Paschalides said the extension was necessary given the scale and complexity of the case.

“In the meantime, through coordinated actions, the entire hour-long video with all the conversations, was secured, the content of which is being evaluated,” Paschalides confirmed, referring to the material originally circulated online in edited excerpts.

The case centres on a video first published on X in January by an account under the name Emily Thompson, which presented itself as belonging to an independent researcher.

The footage appears to show former energy minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis and the president’s former chief-of-staff Charalambos Charalambous in conversation with individuals presented as investors, with references made to funding and the social support agency.

From the outset, those appearing in the video, along with the government, have disputed its authenticity, describing it as a manipulated or malicious montage and questioning the credibility of the account through which it was released.

Paschalides’ mandate as independent investigator is understood to cover all aspects of the case, including the possibility that the events form part of a broader operation rather than an isolated incident.

As part of the investigation, statements have already been taken from individuals appearing in the footage, including Lakkotrypis and Charalambous, as well as Cyfield CEO Georgios Chrysochou.

Particular attention has been directed towards individuals indirectly linked to the case, including a person presenting himself as an investor and a Dutch lawyer reportedly approached to facilitate contact with Cypriot officials.