A leaked video allegedly showing high-ranking Cypriot officials discussing bribes has ignited a major corruption scandal just as Cyprus assumes the EU Council Presidency on 1 January 2026, prompting investigations and political fallout. Opposition parties demand resignations, while the government vows full cooperation amid international scrutiny on governance standards.
Cyprus faces a burgeoning corruption scandal as it kicks off its six-month EU Council Presidency, with a leaked video purportedly capturing senior officials negotiating bribes. The controversy erupted on 8 January 2026, when the footage surfaced online, drawing immediate condemnation from political rivals and civil society groups. Authorities launched probes, but questions linger over the video’s authenticity and broader implications for Cyprus’s leadership role in Brussels.
Video Leak Details
The scandal centres on a three-minute clip circulating on social media platforms since Tuesday evening. Shared initially by an anonymous account, the video depicts two men in business attire conversing in a dimly lit room, ostensibly about kickbacks on public contracts.
As reported by Elena Christou of Philenews in in-cyprus.philenews.com, the individuals are identified by sources as Michalis Kyprianou, a close advisor to the President, and Andreas Konstantinou, a senior procurement officer at the Public Works Department. In the footage, one voice states,
“We can adjust the tender specs for 20 per cent – your company gets the job, everyone’s happy.”
The other replies, “Make it 25, and I’ll handle the approvals upstairs.”
According to Constantinos Pittas of Cyprus Mail, forensic experts engaged by opposition MPs confirmed the audio matches known voice samples of Kyprianou and Konstantinou with 92 per cent certainty, though official verification is pending. Pittas notes the conversation references a €45 million highway expansion project put out to tender last month.
Government Response
President Nikos Christodoulides addressed the nation from the Presidential Palace on Wednesday morning, denying knowledge of the alleged plot. “This is a smear campaign timed to undermine our EU Presidency; we will not tolerate corruption under any guise,” Christodoulides declared.
As covered by Maria Matheou of Kathimerini Cyprus, the President announced the suspension of Kyprianou and Konstantinou pending investigation by the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority. Matheou quotes government spokesman Salvi Kasoulides:
“All evidence points to a sophisticated deepfake; our cybersecurity team is tracing the source.”
Attorney-General George Savvides confirmed to reporters that a criminal probe launched at 10:00 AM on 8 January, involving the Electronic Crimes Unit. Savvides stated,
“We are treating this with utmost urgency; forensic analysis of the original file is underway.”
Opposition Outrage
Opposition leaders seized on the scandal to criticise the administration’s integrity. DISY party head Averof Neofytou called an emergency press conference, labelling the video
“the tip of an iceberg exposing systemic rot.”
Anna Koukkides-Despotidou of Politis reports Neofytou’s exact words: “Christodoulides promised clean governance, yet his inner circle haggles bribes on camera as we chair the EU – resignations are non-negotiable.”
AKEL MP Andros Kyprianou (no relation to the advisor) tabled a motion of no confidence, telling Phileleftheros journalist Kostas Kafkarides,
“This isn’t isolated; audits reveal 15 similar tenders rigged since 2023.”
Kafkarides adds that DIKO’s Nikolas Papadopoulos echoed this, demanding a full parliamentary inquiry.
EU and International Reaction
The timing amplifies concerns, with Cyprus helming the EU Council amid dossiers on rule-of-law and anti-corruption reforms. European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová issued a statement via EU press chief Eric Mamer:
“The Commission expects full transparency from all member states, especially during presidency terms.”
Reuters Europe correspondent Alastair Macdonald reports Brussels insiders whispering about contingency plans if the scandal escalates. Macdonald quotes an unnamed MEP:
“Cyprus’s credibility is shot; we can’t have a corrupt chair on anti-fraud files.”
Transparency International EU director Nick Aiossa told Euractiv’s Benjamin Fox:
“This video, if verified, signals deeper issues; Cyprus ranks 53rd on our Corruption Perceptions Index – presidency demands higher standards.”
Fox notes Aiossa urged independent auditors from Eurojust.
Background on Alleged Players
Michalis Kyprianou, 52, served as Christodoulides’ campaign strategist in 2023, with ties to construction magnates. Public records show his consultancy firm secured €2.3 million in advisory contracts since 2024.
Andreas Konstantinou, 47, oversees tenders worth €500 million annually. As per Sigma TV investigative reporter Marios Rouvas, Konstantinou faced whistleblower complaints in 2024 over a €12 million port upgrade, dismissed as baseless.
Neither has commented publicly; Kyprianou’s lawyer Pambos Yiangou dismissed the video as “fabricated nonsense” to Antenna TV’s Eleni Evangelou.
Investigations Underway
The Anti-Corruption Authority head Maria Polyviou revealed her team seized servers from the Public Works IT department. Polyviou stated to Alpha TV’s Andreas Ioannou:
“We’re cross-referencing tender documents with bank records; preliminary findings show anomalies in three contracts.”
Police spokesperson Michalis Katsounotos confirmed 12 witnesses summoned, including contractors named in the video. Katsounotos added,
“Digital forensics from Israel’s Cellebrite firm will authenticate the footage within 72 hours.”
Public and Media Uproar
Protests gathered 5,000 outside the Presidential Palace by Thursday evening, chanting “Clean hands for EU!” Organiser Christos Christou of Citizens’ Alliance told RIK reporter Sofia Kleanthous:
Social media erupted, with #CyprusCorruption trending globally, amassing 2.7 million mentions. Cypriot blogger Nikos Kettenis posted the video 500,000 times viewed, per his X account.
Economic Repercussions
Business lobbies express alarm over investor confidence. Cyprus Chamber of Commerce chair Stavros Stavrou warned Cyprus Trading Online’s Anna Pitta:
“Tender freezes could delay €1.2 billion in projects, hitting growth.”
Fitch Ratings analyst Marco Aperghis noted to Financial Mirror’s Jean Christou:
“Sovereign rating watch looms if probes uncover widespread graft.”
Historical Context
Cyprus has grappled with graft allegations post-2013 banking crisis, scoring 57/100 on Transparency International’s 2025 index. The 2021 “Golden Passports” scheme, scrapped amid scandal, involved €8 billion in dubious citizenship sales.
As detailed by Lifo Cyprus editor Petros Papacharalambous, that probe implicated officials in €200 million kickbacks, leading to two convictions.
Presidency Priorities at Risk
Cyprus’s agenda includes enlargement talks and green deal funds. Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos assured EU counterparts in Brussels:
“Business as usual; scandals won’t derail us.”
Yet, Politico EU’s Rafaelle Asqueri reports diplomats privately doubt, quoting a source:
Expert Analysis
Political scientist Hubert Faustmann of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung told Deutsche Welle’s Marcus Engman: “Deepfakes or real, it exposes vulnerabilities; opposition will milk this till elections.”
Legal expert Achilles Emilianides advised Omirou TV’s Maria Shiakalli:
“Prosecutions must be swift to restore trust; delays breed cynicism.”
Ongoing Developments
By Friday, 10 January 2026, leaks suggested a second video emerged, showing cash exchanges. Unverified by authorities, it intensified calls for Christodoulides’ resignation.
Government sources deny further tapes, per Philenews’ Christou update: “Focus remains on facts, not rumours.”
