Cyprus and the US embassy announced cooperation to enhance Cypriot capabilities to counter illicit finance. The FBI and Cyprus police will sign a memorandum of understanding to formalize cooperation. US sanctioned a Cyprus-based company for its links with Russia’s financial sector. US appreciates close cooperation with Cypriot authorities to hold sanctions evaders to account.
The tax department in Cyprus is examining the books at Osiou Avakoum monastery to determine if it has met all taxation requirements. This action is part of an audit to assess compliance with tax obligations by the monastery and individuals involved. The investigation follows the suspension of five monks by the Holy Synod amid scandals involving suspect economic activities, financial crimes, sexual harassment, and abuse allegations. The monastery had previously applied for a €3 million fundraiser in 2020 without submitting necessary financial statements. A safe box containing €800,000 was found at the monastery, which was transferred to the Tamassos Bishopric under police supervision.
The Osiou Avakoum monastery applied for a €3 million fundraiser to the interior ministry in 2020 but failed to submit the necessary financial statements afterwards. The application for the fundraiser, intended for the expansion of the monastery, was approved by the Tamassos Bishopric. The monastery is currently embroiled in scandals involving financial crimes, sexual harassment, and abuse, with investigations being conducted by the police and the anti-money laundering unit. A safe box containing €800,000 was found at the monastery, and the cash was transferred to the Tamassos Bishopric under police supervision. No arrests have been made in connection with these issues. The interior ministry expected a financial statement from the monastery after approving its fundraising application in 2021 but did not receive any despite sending eight reminders. A subsequent fundraising request from the monastery in 2023 was not approved, even though it provided bank statements showing €85,000 transfers from the previous fundraiser. The ministry plans to re-examine the case in light of these revelations, and MPs have called for a thorough investigation into money laundering within the church. Two investigators have been appointed by the attorney-general to examine allegations involving police officers’ presence at the monastery without senior officers’ knowledge or orders.
Two monks involved in scandals at the Osiou Avakoum monastery will provide statements to the Holy Synod’s investigative committee next week. This step is part of the final evidence collection before a decision is made. The investigation by a six-member ecclesiastical court of the Holy Synod is not expected to finish before Easter. The committee is focused on reaching a reliable conclusion rather than the time the process takes. A CCTV video under police investigation will be considered in the final decision, despite concerns about its legality. Additionally, there are ongoing police investigations into sexual harassment allegations and possible financial crimes at the monastery. Theologian Theodoros Kyriacou testified in support of a sexual harassment complaint against the monastery’s head, filed by a former employee.
– CCTV footage from the Monastery of Saint Habakkuk is central to a growing scandal.
– The footage and a safe with potentially incriminating material are affecting three police investigations.
– The video surveillance system was installed with the monks’ knowledge but reportedly lacked audio recording capabilities, and access was restricted to a few individuals.
– Lawyers allege that an individual, formerly affiliated with the Tamassos Bishopric, enabled audio recording, which might explain the monks’ behavior in front of the cameras.
– The footage is being processed by a police unit specializing in financial crimes and will be used in investigations into allegations against certain individuals, including Bishop Isaias.
– Citizens have complained about the release of videos containing personal information, prompting potential investigation by the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection.
– The Police Sub-Department for vulnerable persons is investigating a harassment complaint, focusing on an ethical issue.
– The situation at the Monastery is under thorough investigation by the police.
Police in Limassol arrested two individuals on Thursday for suspected money laundering. A property under surveillance for alleged financial crimes led to the arrests when a car arrived, and both occupants were detained. The individuals, a 33-year-old driver and a 34-year-old passenger, both third country nationals, were found with significant amounts of cash. The passenger had €161,425 in cash within 17 envelopes. A further search of the property revealed €706,300, ,539, and £1,375 in cash, along with two banknote counting machines and empty envelopes, leading to the arrest of a 41-year-old claiming partial ownership of the property. Additional searches at the 34-year-old’s house found €815 in cash, multiple mobile phones, and empty envelopes. The financial crime investigation unit in Limassol is continuing the investigation.
The ecclesiastical court will convene within the week to address allegations involving two monks from the Ayios Avakoum monastery in Fterikoudes, related to a sex and cash scandal. The court, which will conduct its proceedings behind closed doors, will be led by Kiti Bishop Nektarios. Tamasos Bishop Isaias initiated the investigation but has since recused himself to avoid a conflict of interest, as has Morphou Bishop Neophytos due to his good relations with the accused monks. The court will consist of six Holy Synod members. The monks are accused of possessing €800,000 in cash, owning property in Greece and Limassol, and being caught on CCTV footage engaging in sexual activities with each other. Police, however, have denied involvement in any undercover operation targeting the monks, despite claims of a violent kidnapping by the monks’ lawyers. Police spokesman Christos Andreou stated that two officers were present at the monastery on March 5 for security during evidence collection but were not part of the ecclesiastical investigation. The police are investigating separate allegations of financial crimes and reports of assault, threats of violence, and other offenses related to the monastery. President Nikos Christodoulides has commented on the case, emphasizing that it is subject to an ongoing investigative and judicial process.
The Ayios Avakoum monastery in Fterikoudes has been implicated in a scandal involving a miracles’ racket and other deceptive practices, attracting attention from both the public and authorities. Revelations about the monastery’s activities, including allegations of sexual misconduct and financial exploitation by two monks, have prompted an investigation and an ecclesiastical court hearing. Residents and visitors have reported being extorted for money and property under the guise of religious donations. The situation has been exacerbated by social media influencers promoting the monastery’s supposed miracles, leading to large, profitable events. Efforts to address these issues with the police and church authorities have met with limited success.
Two monks, Archimandrite Nektarios and Archimandrite Porfirios, embroiled in allegations involving sex and nearly €1 million in cash, have claimed they are victims of corruption between the police and church. Their lawyers, Adrianna Klaedes and Nikolaos Koulouris, allege the monks were kidnapped from the Osiou Avakoum monastery in Fterikoudes by a group of about 30 people, 10 of whom were hooded, and were forced to sign false confessions. The operation was allegedly overseen by Tamasos Bishop Isias. The monks were reportedly kept in separate areas, grilled for hours under guard, and forbidden from contacting anyone. They were forced to sign their voluntary defrocking against their will. The lawyers claim these actions were carried out by police officers in civilian clothes under orders from Bishop Isias. The letter detailing these allegations was sent to President Nikos Christodoulides, the anti-corruption authority, the police chief, and the House human rights committee. The police have denied these allegations, stating the monks were told they would be called in later to give a statement. The Holy Synod has reported the monks to the police, and the financial crimes unit is investigating. The monks were allegedly found with €800,000 in cash and property in Greece and Limassol, and were caught on CCTV footage having sex with each other. This footage was shown during a Holy Synod session, which referred the monks to ecclesiastical court. The monks’ legal team claims the footage was obtained and edited by another monk without their consent, violating GDPR regulations. President Christodoulides has stated that justice will be served without the need for intervention from any party.
Police are investigating financial crimes at Osiou Avakoum monastery involving two monks who allegedly engaged in sexual activities and received thousands of euros in cash, claiming them to be donations. The incident led to an emergency Holy Synod meeting, resulting in the decision to send the two monks to ecclesiastical court. Bishop Isaias of Tamasos provided a statement to the police. The monks, who did not attend the emergency session, denied all charges through a letter, claiming they were pressured to admit to having sexual relations and fabricating miracles for €800,000. Their lawyers argued that the confessions were signed under duress and clarified that a sex scandal involved a third former cleric, not the two monks. The lawyers represent victims of the scandal involving the third cleric. The Holy Synod has urged the faithful to remain steadfast and encouraged public complaints about clerics to be brought forward.