The First Lady of Cyprus, Filippa Karsera, is stepping down from the Management Committee of the Independent Social Support Agency (ISSA), following what she describes as a “relentless attack” against herself and her children on social media over the past 24 hours, involving the “spread of fake news,” “defamatory comments,” and “allegations of criminal acts” from named and anonymous accounts.
In her post, she refers to the risk of further dissemination and “uncritical mass reproduction” of the allegations, arguing that this constitutes defamation and a violation of human rights for herself and her family, adding that she has already sought legal advice.
The resignation of the First Lady of Nicosia and the attacks she denounces come in the “shadow” of the bribery case involving the Presidential Palace that has shaken Cyprus, following a video posted on social media, behind which the Cypriot government “sees” an organized network of Russian disinformation.
Extraordinary meeting and resignation
As she notes, tomorrow an extraordinary meeting of the ISSA Management Committee will be convened, at which she will announce her decision to step down from the presidency of the Committee. She stresses that she is not resigning because she does not wish to continue helping children from impoverished families, but because, as she states, she will not allow “the ethics and integrity” of herself, her husband—the President of the Republic of Cyprus—and their family to be slandered under the pretext of the Agency’s operation.
Along the same lines, she announces that she will take a similar stance with regard to other charitable organizations in which she participated as executive president, noting that she did so “with joy” in order to strengthen their work, as previous First Ladies had done.
What is the ISSA
The ISSA is an institutionalized mechanism of social support, aimed at providing financial assistance to individuals in financial hardship, particularly in cases where extraordinary social circumstances or exceptional events seriously affect the continuation of university studies.
According to the legislative framework, the chair of the Management Committee is appointed as the spouse of the sitting President of the Republic, with the provision that if he or she does not wish to assume the role, the Council of Ministers may appoint another person of standing.
The Agency’s official presentation also states that it is supported by contributions from natural and legal persons and does not burden the state budget.
The political backdrop and pressure
The timing of the post comes as the ISSA is once again at the center of political confrontation, following the uproar caused by the controversial video circulated on social media, which includes references to “contributions” and “Corporate Social Responsibility,” with the opposition demanding answers and AKEL stating that it is initiating procedures for a bill to abolish the Agency.
According to what has been reported, the aim of the proposal being prepared by AKEL is that, after obligations are settled, the reserve fund be transferred to the Cyprus State Scholarships Foundation, while reference is also made to an earlier discussion about publishing a list of donors.
Ms. Karsera herself, in her post, links the intensity of the attacks to the period when she assumed the role of president of the Management Committee (March 2023), and particularly to the strengthening of the budget and the granting of more scholarships during 2024 and 2025, noting that “the war became relentless.”
Full text of the post:
“With sadness and great concern, over the past 24 hours my children and I have been witnessing a relentless attack on social media involving the spread of fake news, defamatory comments, and allegations of criminal acts from personal accounts, both named and anonymous.
There is also the risk of further dissemination and uncritical mass reproduction of the malicious and unfounded allegations, which would constitute defamation and a violation of my human rights and those of my family. The fact that I am the spouse of the President of the Republic of Cyprus does not constitute a justification or mitigating factor for these unfounded attacks and accusations.
Because, as an individual, I deeply believe that defending our rights is not simply a right but an obligation, and that we must fight and not show tolerance toward such phenomena, I have already sought legal advice.
Once again, I repeat that from the moment I assumed office, strictly adhering to the legislation adopted in 2015 by the House of Representatives, as president of the Management Committee of the Independent Social Support Agency (March 2023), and especially after the strengthening of its budget and the provision of scholarships to many more children from impoverished families in 2024 and 2025, the war became relentless.
Tomorrow, the ISSA Management Committee will convene extraordinarily, and I will inform it of my decision to withdraw from the Committee. Not because I do not wish to continue helping children—this was from the outset my sole motivating reason—but because I will not allow anyone to continue to slander the ethics and integrity of myself, my husband, and my family under the pretext of the operation of the ISSA, from which no member of the Management Committee derives even the slightest personal benefit.
I have decided to adopt the same stance with regard to the other charitable organizations in which I gladly accepted to serve as executive president in order to support their work, as previous First Ladies had done.
We must all not allow individuals to be slandered with unfounded allegations for political, party, or vote-seeking purposes. This is not culture or political ethics, nor a way to win the sympathy of the people. On the contrary.
I know that people understand the truth and that justice always prevails. One does not need official positions or titles to help, nor to be party officials. It is enough to remain human beings who have God within them and who walk through life in pursuit of what is right and just. As a mother, I will always defend my family; as an active citizen, I will continue to stand by all children and vulnerable people who need me—quietly, discreetly, and selflessly—strictly observing justice and defending the human rights of all.”
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