The Greek National Gallery unveiled photographs on Monday afternoon capturing the aftermath of an act of vandalism by Nikos Papadopoulos, a fundamentalist MP from the ultra-orthodox Niki party, who claimed the targeted artworks were offensive to Christianity.
In a strongly worded statement, the Gallery’s Board of Directors condemned the attack as an assault on artistic freedom, denouncing it as both vandalism and censorship.
According to the statement, Papadopoulos, accompanied by another individual, defaced four pieces by artist Christophoros Katsadiotis, which were on display as part of the exhibition The Allure of the Bizarre.
“The National Gallery–Alexandros Soutzos Museum was subjected to an act of destruction by Niki MP Nikos Papadopoulos, who, with the assistance of another individual, forcibly removed four artworks by Christophoros Katsadiotis from the walls, throwing them to the ground and causing significant damage,” the statement read.
The Gallery reaffirmed its commitment to artistic expression. “We unequivocally condemn all acts of vandalism, violence, and censorship that threaten the constitutionally protected freedom of the arts.”
Papadopoulos was detained at the scene before being charged with a misdemeanour for minor property damage and subsequently released.
Yiannis Moschos, the artistic director of the National Theatre of Greece, took to social media to condemn the attack by what he described as “the fascist ‘MP’ who was ‘offended’ by the works of Christopher Katsadiotis.”
Moschos in the same post also denounced “the vulgar sexist attack” by New Democracy MP Dimitris Kyriatzidis against Zoi Konstantopoulou, leader of the Course of Freedom party.
Kyriatzidis shouted at Konstantopoulou from the benches: “Go have a child.”
Moschos said the destruction of art and the sexist attack were “not coincidences.”
“These incidents are starting to intensify dangerously. Donald Trump legalised them, setting a ‘shining example’ to all his like-minded people around the world,” Moschos posted on Facebook.
Parliamentary Vice President Odysseas Konstantinopoulos called the comment “unacceptable” and demanded an apology.
Kyriatzidis claimed his words had been misunderstood, stating that he never intended to insult anyone.
According to Greek national media, ERT, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis intervened, urging the Parliamentary President to instruct Kyriatzidis to apologise immediately or face expulsion from the party.
Soon after, New Democracy’s Ethics Committee unanimously voted to expel Kyriatzidis from the parliamentary group.
In its statement, the committee cited his behaviour in Parliament as inappropriate and contradictory to the party’s values, concluding that his actions had excluded him from the parliamentary group.
