The defense for the defendants raised the issue of a raid on the premises of the Avvakoum Monastery during Wednesday’s hearing before the Nicosia Permanent Criminal Court, as part of the legal proceedings concerning the financial aspects of the case, citing photographs taken by the police in March and July 2024.

During the proceedings, Police Sergeant E.S. was cross-examined; he submitted 215 photographs as evidence in both printed and electronic form. As he stated, he took the photographs on July 9, 2024, at the Avvakoum Monastery, the Church of St. Nicholas in Fterikoudi, and the Metropolis of Tamassos.

At the same time, the Court unanimously approved the request by the defendant, Porphyrios, for free legal aid, after first reviewing his financial circumstances. Subsequently, the defendant appointed Efstathios Efstathiou as his defense counsel.

During cross-examination, the defense attorney for the defendant Nektarios, Kostis Efstathiou, asked the witness if he had visited the Avvakoum Monastery again. The witness replied that he had visited it on other occasions in the past, both for pilgrimage and in connection with investigations into burglary cases.

The witness was also asked whether he had previously seen Fathers Dionysius and Bartholomew, who were present at the locations where he took photographs on July 9, 2024, and he replied in the negative.

He added that a colleague of his, from whom he was receiving instructions, was also present while the photographs were being taken.

When asked whether, during his visit to the Church of St. Nicholas to take the photographs, the door was open and whether there were other people inside, the sergeant replied that he did not remember.

Subsequently, defense attorney Kostis Efstathiou comparing photographs taken by the police in March and July 2024 of the same locations, argued that alterations had been made to the monastery premises.

“A photo from March shows five items; a photo from July shows 15 items. When the witness went to take the photos, the area looked different from how it did in March,” he stated.

During cross-examination, the defense attorney for the defendant Porphyrios, Eustathios Efstathiou, asked the witness whether his colleagues had keys to the Avvakoum Monastery in their possession. The witness replied that he did not know.

Addressing the witness, Efstathios Efstathiou stated that “the area was not controlled, untainted, or secured. You cannot rule out the possibility that third parties had access to the premises before you entered.”

In addition, the defense asked the Court to return the defendants’ identification cards so that they could attend to their daily needs, while remaining on the list of individuals prohibited from leaving the country (stop-list).

The Prosecution raised no objection and recommended that a prohibition on crossing checkpoints into areas not controlled by the Republic of Cyprus be added to the restrictive conditions.

The Court accepted the request and added the prohibition on crossing the roadblocks to the restrictive conditions.

The Court scheduled the next hearings for July 13, 20, and 22, at 9:30 a.m.