Self-styled anarchists belonging to the Rouvikonas (Rubicon) group vandalized the home of a prominent Greek journalist in Athens on Thursday night, spray painting slogans on the walls and throwing leaflets at his door.
Aris Portosalte, a journalist for Skai TV, posted photos on social media on Friday morning following the attack, accusing the perpetrators of being fascists who are threatening democracy. “The fascist raiders of Rouvikonas in a terrorist attack at the entrance of my apartment building. Democracy at stake…” his post read.
Τα φασιστικά τάγματα εφόδου του Ρουβίκωνα σε τρομοκρατική επιδρομή απόψε στην είσοδο της πολυκατοικίας μου.
Η Δημοκρατία σε κίνδυνο.. pic.twitter.com/2H0JnX2TAd— ArisPortosalte (@ArisPortosalte) February 6, 2020
The painted slogans accuse Portosalte of being a Nazi and call for his death. Rubicon posted a message on social media claiming responsibility and even warning that more action against the journalist will follow. “His hatred for us is an honor,” the text says.
Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas has condemned the “fascist attack.” In a statement released after the incident, he said that the incident “is an attack on everything we want to protect. It is an attack on the freedom of expression. It is an attack on democracy.”
Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias also condemned the vandalism and threats against the journalist on Friday, saying on Twitter that it was “not just an attack against the particular journalist, but an assault on freedom of speech.”