The National Gallery in Athens is increasing security measures after a religious extremist politician vandalized several artworks last week.
Nikolaos Papadopoulos, an MP with the Niki party, stormed the gallery, shattered a display case, and removed four religious-themed paintings, denouncing them as blasphemous.
“Following the recent violent incident and its repercussions, and given the ongoing threats against the National Gallery–Alexandros Soutsos Museum, its exhibited works of art, employees and administration, we have decided…to upgrade [our] security measures,” the gallery said in a statement.
The gallery is working with the Center for Security Studies to prepare a security study.
The vandalized artworks are undergoing conservation and restoration.
The gallery reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of artistic expression.