21 FEBRUARY 2017
23 MARCH 2015
Vatopedi Trial: Defendants Ask for Expulsion of State from the Civil Action Position
The trial for the so-called ‘holy land swaps’ of Vatopedi Monastery continued before the Three Member Felonies Appellate Court, after the defense had demanded the expulsion of the State from the civil action position.
With Abbot Ephraim absent from today’s hearing, the defense submitted pleas concerning the expulsion of the State from the civil action position on the grounds that there have been no damages.
More particularly, the lawyers of the Monastery invoked 18 decisions issued up until today for 28 petitions filed by the Greek State, which vindicated the Monastery. The aforementioned petitions concerned each and every property swapped between the Greek State and the Monastery, centered around Lake Vistonida. According to the councilors of the Monastery, it is mentioned in the 18 decisions that “the fact that the ownership belongs to the Greek Sate is not self-evident and depends on the produce of titles in each separate case”.
“For 100 years the Monastery has been trying to resolve the issue of ownership with the Greek State in a peaceful and beneficial way for both parties concerned”.
“The Monastery, claimed its defense, had envisioned the exploitation of its Metochi (farmland) in the Lake. These plans were hindered by the local authorities, who proceeded to their own struggle. And the Greek State wanted to solve the problem. Then, the State proposed to send them away, by using local MP Mr. Kontos. Howthough? Byexpropriatingthelake? There is no money. Then, by giving them other land so they leave that place. The land swaps began with the State’s initiative. Former Deputy Minister Alexandros Kontos says so, who defended Vatopedi at the time; the swaps were the State’s invention in an attempt to solve the problem.”
Furthermore, the Monastery lawyers provided the court with and invoked an affidavit of the honorary president of the New Democracy Party, Kostantinos Mitsotakis, according to which “each government accepts the ownership regime of the Monastery on the Lake”. The councilors highlighted that “the whole case does not constitute an arbitrary fabrication of two monks. Not to return the properties constituted a political decision.”
On the issue of the State’s claim of 250 million euros for damages and an additional 1,8 million for emotional distress, the defense said that “the civil action entry of appearance relies on the State’s false admission that it owns the lake and the surrounding land”.
Notary Aikaterini Peleki claimed, via her lawyer, that “based on special venue for notaries, the only way for the state to make civil claims from her would be the action for mistrial; however, the peremption for its submission has passed. Therefore, according to the accused, the State has lost its right to make claims from her”. The trial is to be continued on March 31.
Vatopedi Trial: Defendants Ask for Expulsion of State from the Civil Action Position
The trial for the so-called ‘holy land swaps’ of Vatopedi Monastery continued before the Three Member Felonies Appellate Court, after the defense had demanded the expulsion of the State from the civil action position.
With Abbot Ephraim absent from today’s hearing, the defense submitted pleas concerning the expulsion of the State from the civil action position on the grounds that there have been no damages.
More particularly, the lawyers of the Monastery invoked 18 decisions issued up until today for 28 petitions filed by the Greek State, which vindicated the Monastery. The aforementioned petitions concerned each and every property swapped between the Greek State and the Monastery, centered around Lake Vistonida. According to the councilors of the Monastery, it is mentioned in the 18 decisions that “the fact that the ownership belongs to the Greek Sate is not self-evident and depends on the produce of titles in each separate case”.
“For 100 years the Monastery has been trying to resolve the issue of ownership with the Greek State in a peaceful and beneficial way for both parties concerned”.
“The Monastery, claimed its defense, had envisioned the exploitation of its Metochi (farmland) in the Lake. These plans were hindered by the local authorities, who proceeded to their own struggle. And the Greek State wanted to solve the problem. Then, the State proposed to send them away, by using local MP Mr. Kontos. Howthough? Byexpropriatingthelake? There is no money. Then, by giving them other land so they leave that place. The land swaps began with the State’s initiative. Former Deputy Minister Alexandros Kontos says so, who defended Vatopedi at the time; the swaps were the State’s invention in an attempt to solve the problem.”
Furthermore, the Monastery lawyers provided the court with and invoked an affidavit of the honorary president of the New Democracy Party, Kostantinos Mitsotakis, according to which “each government accepts the ownership regime of the Monastery on the Lake”. The councilors highlighted that “the whole case does not constitute an arbitrary fabrication of two monks. Not to return the properties constituted a political decision.”
On the issue of the State’s claim of 250 million euros for damages and an additional 1,8 million for emotional distress, the defense said that “the civil action entry of appearance relies on the State’s false admission that it owns the lake and the surrounding land”.
Notary Aikaterini Peleki claimed, via her lawyer, that “based on special venue for notaries, the only way for the state to make civil claims from her would be the action for mistrial; however, the peremption for its submission has passed. Therefore, according to the accused, the State has lost its right to make claims from her”. The trial is to be continued on March 31.
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