A Russian monk was arrested and prosecuted for living in Greece without a permit in the last three years, allegedly at the Aghios Panteleimonas Monastery (also known as the Russian Monastery) in the all-male monastic community of Mt Athos in northern Greece.

The man was arrested at the Thessaloniki International Airport ‘Makedonia’ while trying to travel to Moscow through Istanbul, when it was discovered he did not have the required legal documents to reside in Greece. According to what was made known, the monk came to Greece early in 2022 on a two-month residence permit. When that expired, he paid a visit to Mt Athos, where he was issued with a three-day permit, but he remained there for over three years.

In his testimony he said, “I was planning to return to my country in 2022, but could not find a ticket. I was living in the Aghios Panteleimonas Monastery, I now want to return.” He expressed ignorance about the offense he is charged with, saying “I thought I would simply be issued a fine.”

The misdemeanors court in Thessaloniki, where he was tried, found him guilty under the new law on illegal residency, sentencing him to 2 years in jail and a 5,000-euro fine, without suspension or change. Since the sentence is cancelled if the person wishes to voluntarily return to his country, per the new law, the monk declared that that was his wish anyway, to be repatriated.