A far-right Greek MP has been arrested after storming the National Gallery in Athens and vandalising exhibits he claimed were blasphemous.
Nikolaos Papadopoulos, a member of the Victory (Niki) party, was taken into custody at the Athens General Police Directorate (GADA) on charges of aggravated criminal damage.
The Incident
According to reports, Papadopoulos forcibly entered the National Gallery, smashing protective glass and attempting to seize paintings while shouting that they insulted religious values. Security staff intervened quickly, at which point he threw the artworks to the ground, causing further damage.
In the days leading up to the incident, the MP had sent a formal letter to the gallery’s management demanding the removal of specific exhibits. He had also raised the issue in Parliament, addressing his concerns to Culture Minister Lina Mendoni.
Following his arrest, Papadopoulos took to social media to defend his actions, posting about the “chaos” at the National Gallery and using hashtags targeting the government and cultural authorities.
Political Reactions
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, particularly from the opposition party New Left, which strongly criticised Papadopoulos’ actions.
“The vandalism of artworks by Victory MP Nikos Papadopoulos at the National Gallery is a shocking act of disrespect, backwardness, and medieval thinking,” New Left stated.
The party went on to accuse the MP of attempting to suppress artistic expression, warning that far-right extremism poses a serious threat to democracy and cultural freedom.
“In 2025, this MP sees himself as an inquisitor, storming a cultural institution to attack art and free expression. But diversity cannot be silenced, nor can critical thought be suppressed. Victory, behind its supposedly Christian facade, once again reveals its true face—reactionary, aggressive, and dangerous to democracy and civilisation.”
The arrest has reignited debate in Greece over the relationship between politics, religion, and artistic freedom, with growing calls for stronger protections for cultural institutions against extremist attacks.
