美国国家公共电台 NPR--Russian involvement on Mount Athos didn't draw attention until Russia invaded Ukraine

Russian involvement on Mount Athos didn't draw attention until Russia invaded Ukraine

Transcript¹

Mount Athos in Greece is a revered² site for the Orthodox Church — and potentially attractive as an unorthodox route for Russian money into Europe.

Eliza Triantafillou contributed to this story.

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

Mount Athos on the Athos peninsula in northern Greece may be the holiest site in all of Orthodox Christianity. The region is semi-independent from Greece. Locals refer to it as a monastic republic. And the monks³ who live there control their own finances, which can make it very attractive for Russians who want to convert rubles to euros. NPR's Julian Hayda reports from Greece.

UNIDENTIFIED CHORUS: (Singing in non-English language).

JULIAN HAYDA, BYLINE⁴: Nearly two dozen monasteries⁵ cling to the sides of Mount Athos, ancient buildings peppered with cupolas rise high above the Aegean Sea and are dwarfed⁶ only by the holy mountain rising in the background. Inside, monks from around the world keep a rigid⁷ schedule of work and prayer, mostly inside of richly frescoed⁸ churches.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED DEACON: (Praying in non-English language).

HAYDA: You'd think they'd be chanting in Greek, but you're just as likely to hear Russian here, sometimes of a distinctly political nature. This video posted by one monastery⁹ has a deacon chanting prayers for, quote, "our revered president, Vladimir Putin, his government and military." Russian President Vladimir Putin and his friends frequently visited the monasteries on Mount Athos. And among many Russians, it is revered not only as a place of meditation¹⁰ but for some more earthly reasons, too.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: (Non-English language spoken).

HAYDA: During a 2016 visit, Putin said he was proud to have funded a lot of the projects on Mount Athos. Cyril Hovorun knows quite a bit about Athos and Russia. And he has some thoughts about why Putin may be interested in investing there.

CYRIL HOVORUN: (Non-English language spoken).

HAYDA: I meet him 90 miles south of Athos at a sunny seaside cafe in the Greek town of Volos. He drifts seamlessly between Ukrainian, Greek, Russian and English, which is very useful if you want to stay abreast¹² of wartime European geopolitics. But there's something else that makes him uniquely qualified¹³ to follow the money in this case. He's a priest - an archimandrite, actually, which is a prestigious¹⁴ title he was given for years of service to the Russian Orthodox Church.

HOVORUN: The Russian intentions are not pure. They are not philanthropic.

HAYDA: But for the better part of a decade, he's researched some of the coercive tactics the Russian church has made with its allies, like sending money to Greece with strings¹⁵ attached.

HOVORUN: Some monasteries have a justification¹⁶ for themselves that, well, we may receive this Russian money in order to do some charitable work. And some of them - sometimes they do. But still, this money is dirty. And this is a bribe¹⁷.

HAYDA: Archbishop Job Getcha is a high-ranking official in the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the institution that oversees¹⁸ Mount Athos.

JOB GETCHA: In Russia, many oligarchs, they are quite used to use the church as a way of laundering¹⁹ the money.

HAYDA: He says fake construction contracts and donation schemes are common.

GETCHA: Knowing their practices, I wouldn't be surprised that they do the same on Mount Athos.

HAYDA: Russian involvement on Mount Athos didn't draw much attention until Russia invaded Ukraine last year. Under a new EU sanctions regime, Greece's money laundering authority took a critical look at Russian finances flowing into the monasteries. Last fall, the government found dozens of wire transfers from Russia, many in the range of six to seven figures.

THANASSIS MARTINOS: Certainly, the monks are not involved in illegal activities.

HAYDA: That's Thanassis Martinos (ph), the government-installed law enforcement administrator²⁰ on Mount Athos. He says there's no reason to investigate Mount Athos.

MARTINOS: I think it's a gross exaggeration. The monks are devoted²¹ to their religious functions. I mean, they are quiet. I think they pray for peace.

HAYDA: But Martinos is also the owner of one of Greece's largest shipping²² companies, Minerva Marine²³. Last year, Ukraine named Minerva Marine as a, quote, leading "sponsor of terrorism" for shipping millions of barrels of Russian oil to market.

YANNIS SOULIOTIS: (Non-English language spoken).

HAYDA: Greek journalist Yannis Souliotis from the daily newspaper Kathimerini broke the Mount Athos money laundering story. He says that wealthy Russians panicked when the EU began to sanction Russia. And even though none of the people flagged by the Greek money laundering authority are sanctioned because of the war, there's no way of knowing if that money changed hands within Russia before getting sent to Greece. Souliotis says that there were documented cases of sanctioned Russians doing similar transactions before Russia invaded Ukraine last year. NPR also spoke¹¹ with the Greek money laundering authority, as well as officials close to the church. They all said Russian money is a known issue.

GETCHA: In many ecclesiastical institutions, the finances are very opaque²⁴.

HAYDA: Archbishop Job again.

GETCHA: But they will show you what they want to show.

HAYDA: The monasteries on Mount Athos are not required to file financial reports with the Greek government. And Greece's money laundering authority does not have the staff to investigate suspicious financial activity on Athos.

ALEXANDROS MASSAVETAS: Churches are basically structured like mafia organizations.

HAYDA: Investigative journalist Alexandros Massavetas (ph) wrote a book on Russia's influence in Greek society through the church.

MASSAVETAS: Church appeared as a very convenient Trojan horse to influence and sway Greek society towards Russia's ends.

HAYDA: He points to one example, a number of influential²⁵ pro-Kremlin media outlets²⁶ based on Mount Athos monasteries, including one affiliated²⁷ with Russian businessman Konstantin Malofeev, who was sanctioned by the U.S. and EU for funding the war in eastern Ukraine.

MASSAVETAS: We were suddenly flooded with internet pages which sort of functioned like Putin's speakers.

HAYDA: Russia still remains²⁸ relatively²⁹ popular in Greece compared to how other EU countries view Moscow. Massavetas says that social divide in Greece is perhaps why the political will to look into potential money laundering or sanctions evasion³⁰ just isn't there.

HOVORUN: I call sometimes Putin a master of cracks.

HAYDA: Backed by the Greek seaside, Father Cyril Hovorun says that sort of Greek ambivalence³¹ is something that Russia has excelled at exploiting.

HOVORUN: So he tries to find a crack within a given social body, a society, and tries to widen those cracks.

HAYDA: And the European sanctions regime is just one crack that's widening.

Julian Hayda, NPR News, Athens.

(SOUNDBITE OF SUN GLITTERS' "ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER TIME")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 revered   

v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A number of institutions revered and respected in earlier times have become Aunt Sally for the present generation. 一些早年受到尊崇的惯例，现在已经成了这代人嘲弄的对象了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven. 中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。 来自辞典例句

3 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

5 monasteries   

修道院( monastery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• In ancient China, there were lots of monasteries. 在古时候，中国有许多寺院。
• The Negev became a religious center with many monasteries and churches. 内格夫成为许多庙宇和教堂的宗教中心。

6 dwarfed   

vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The old houses were dwarfed by the huge new tower blocks. 这些旧房子在新建的高楼大厦的映衬下显得十分矮小。
• The elephant dwarfed the tortoise. 那只乌龟跟那头象相比就显得很小。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 rigid   

adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的

参考例句：

• She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
• The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严，几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。

8 frescoed   

壁画( fresco的名词复数 )； 温壁画技法，湿壁画

参考例句：

• The Dunhuang frescoes are gems of ancient Chinese art. 敦煌壁画是我国古代艺术中的瑰宝。
• The frescoes in these churches are magnificent. 这些教堂里的壁画富丽堂皇。

9 monastery   

n.修道院，僧院，寺院

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• She was appointed the superior of the monastery two years ago.两年前她被任命为这个修道院的院长。

10 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

11 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

12 abreast   

adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地

参考例句：

• She kept abreast with the flood of communications that had poured in.她及时回复如雪片般飞来的大批信件。
• We can't keep abreast of the developing situation unless we study harder.我们如果不加强学习，就会跟不上形势。

13 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

14 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

15 strings   

n.弦

参考例句：

• He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。

16 justification   

n.正当的理由；辩解的理由

参考例句：

• There's no justification for dividing the company into smaller units. 没有理由把公司划分成小单位。
• In the young there is a justification for this feeling. 在年轻人中有这种感觉是有理由的。

17 bribe   

n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通

参考例句：

• He tried to bribe the policeman not to arrest him.他企图贿赂警察不逮捕他。
• He resolutely refused their bribe.他坚决不接受他们的贿赂。

18 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

19 laundering   

n.洗涤（衣等），洗烫（衣等）；洗（钱）v.洗（衣服等），洗烫（衣服等）( launder的现在分词 )；洗（黑钱）（把非法收入改头换面，变为貌似合法的收入）

参考例句：

• Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering. 洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He was charged with laundering money. 他被指控洗钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

21 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

22 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

23 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

24 opaque   

adj.不透光的；不反光的，不传导的；晦涩的

参考例句：

• The windows are of opaque glass.这些窗户装着不透明玻璃。
• Their intentions remained opaque.他们的意图仍然令人费解。

25 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

26 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

27 affiliated   

adj. 附属的, 有关连的

参考例句：

• The hospital is affiliated with the local university. 这家医院附属于当地大学。
• All affiliated members can vote. 所有隶属成员都有投票权。

28 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

29 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

30 evasion   

n.逃避，偷漏(税)

参考例句：

• The movie star is in prison for tax evasion.那位影星因为逃税而坐牢。
• The act was passed as a safeguard against tax evasion.这项法案旨在防止逃税行为。

31 ambivalence   

n.矛盾心理

参考例句：

• She viewed her daughter's education with ambivalence.她看待女儿的教育问题态度矛盾。
• She felt a certain ambivalence towards him.她对他的态度有些矛盾。