The abbot of one of Greece's richest and most powerful monasteries was jailed on Wednesday while awaiting trial for fraud in a high-profile land swap deal. The pre-trial jailing of Abbot Efraim, head of the Vatopedi Monastery at the monastic community of Mount Athos, sparked a row with Russia, who described it as breach of human rights. Mount Athos monastery is venerated by millions of Russians who share the same branch of Orthodox Christianity as Greece.
Cypriot-born Efraim, 56, has been accused of masterminding a scheme six years ago under which the monastery exchanged real estate with the government in return for more valuable land. Prosecutors said the land swaps cost the Greek state tens of millions of euros.
Efraim, born Vassileios Koutsou, denies all charges. He was jailed at Greece's biggest prison, Korydallos in Athens, and could face a lengthy term behind bars if convicted.
Prosecutors had demanded he be jailed because of the gravity of the accusations. They also argued he could try to use his position to influence others if he were allowed to remain free.
Efraim had been under house arrest at his monastic cell in Vatopedi since Saturday after returning from a fund-raising tour in Russia, where he met Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. His arrest caused an outcry among religious and conservative circles in Athens and Moscow and sparked an angry exchange of statements between the two countries' foreign ministries.
Greece's foreign ministry dismissed the Russian concern. "The rule of law holds sway in Greece," it said, adding that Greece "does not accept lessons on such matters". The monastery has many prominent fans in Greece and abroad, including Britain's Prince Charles, who is a frequent visitor. Exposure of the scandal precipitated the fall of the country's then conservative government in 2009. Greek lawmakers have investigated three former government ministers over Vatopedi. But the case against them was dropped because it fell under a statute of limitations which applies specifically to those who have held government office. An investigation continued into monks and other public officials.
A Greek party leader also regretted the monk's arrest: "They rushed Efraim to jail ... while others who have embezzled Greek people's money remain at large," said George Karatzaferis, leader of the far-right LAOS party which is part of Greece's coalition government.