Supreme court overturns detention order for Osiou Avvakoum monastery evidence

On November 3, 2026, the Supreme Court of Cyprus issued a unanimous ruling concerning the ongoing legal proceedings at the Holy Monastery of Osiou Avvakoum. The court overturned a previous district court order that had authorized the detention of three electronic devices containing footage from the monastery's CCTV system, ruling that the lower court had acted without proper legal authority or jurisdiction.

The three devices in question had been surrendered voluntarily to police authorities by Archimandrite Varnavas. While the Supreme Court granted the appeal filed by the former abbot, Nektarios, by invalidating the specific detention order, it clarified that the police are not required to return the items. The judges determined that since the devices were surrendered voluntarily during the criminal investigation, the police maintain the legal right to retain possession of them.

This decision marks a significant development in the investigation, highlighting the legal limitations regarding how law enforcement handles sensitive digital data. Despite the partial victory for the defense, the evidentiary material remains under police control as the investigation continues.