**Court Accepts Controversial Evidence in Avakoum Monks’ Trial**
The Nicosia criminal court has ruled against a request for a trial within a trial in the case of the Avakoum monks, allowing controversial evidence to be submitted by the prosecution. This decision was made on Wednesday, as the court determined that the evidence in question, which includes photographs of items seized from the monks, did not violate their rights since the items were photographed after the monks had vacated the monastery.
The defense had argued that the evidence should be excluded based on the manner in which it was obtained. They claimed that the initial bundle of items was confiscated from the Avakoum monastery by masked individuals without a search warrant, and that the second set of photographs was taken from a safe belonging to the mother of one of the defendants, again without proper authorization. The defense contended that these actions constituted a violation of the monks' rights.
In response, the prosecution maintained that the primary concern was the admissibility of the evidence, emphasizing that the monks were not residing in the monastery at the time of the searches. The court noted a lack of consensus on the facts presented by the defense regarding the two raids and stated that it could not investigate alleged rights violations concerning third parties.
"The extent and nature of the objection would lead to the fragmentation of the main trial," the court explained in its ruling, deciding against the defense's request for a separate trial to address these issues. However, the court clarified that this decision did not imply that the evidence would automatically be accepted; any objections regarding the evidence would still be considered as the trial progressed.
Proceedings continued with the questioning of a witness, during which the defense raised concerns about the legality of the witness's presence during the evidence collection. The court reiterated its earlier ruling against a trial within a trial and acknowledged the two bundles of photographs as admissible evidence.
As the prosecution questioned the witness, they sought confirmation regarding the origin of the photographs, which were linked to the Tamasos bishopric and the Avakoum monastery. The witness confirmed this connection. The court subsequently adjourned, with plans to resume the cross-examination of the witness on July 6 at 9:30 AM.
The trial is part of a broader legal battle facing the two monks, who are charged with serious offenses, including money laundering and fraud. The Holy Synod has already upheld their defrocking, and they are also facing criminal proceedings that include charges of lewdness, sodomy, and other offenses related to misleading believers and exploiting their faith for financial gain.
The allegations against one of the monks, Nektarios, suggest that he took on a leading role in the alleged misconduct, reportedly going so far as to impersonate Saint Avakoum. He is accused of faking exorcisms to extract money from followers by claiming that the saint had possessed him, a claim that has drawn significant public attention and scrutiny.
As the trial progresses, the court has scheduled additional hearings for July 8, 13, 20, and 22, all set to begin at 9:30 AM. The outcome of this case could have significant implications not only for the defendants but also for the broader religious community in Cyprus.