First lady of Cyprus quits charity role amid corruption allegations
politico.eu••world
Key Points:
- Cyprus’ first lady Philippa Karsera announced her resignation from the management committee of the Independent Social Support Agency (AFKS) charity fund amid corruption allegations, citing intense social media attacks and legal consultation.
- The allegations surfaced after a secretly recorded video was posted online, showing senior figures discussing ways to bypass campaign spending caps and misuse AFKS funds for preferential treatment, including helping Russians avoid EU sanctions.
- The government denies the accusations, labeling the video as a “hybrid activity” intended to damage Cyprus’ image, and has sought investigative assistance from the US, Israel, the UK, and France to trace the video's origins.
- Opposition parties have criticized the delayed resignation and the government's refusal to disclose donor identities, while coalition-supporting
