Varoufakis harassed by group of masked individuals, punched while dining in central Athens

Yanis Varoufakis, a maverick economist who founded and leads a small radical leftist party represented in Greece’s Parliament, was assaulted by at least one suspect on Friday evening after being harassed by a group of six or seven masked individuals inside a central Athens restaurant.

According to reports, Varoufakis, 61, was punched at least once in the face, and reportedly fell to the ground bleeding after he exited the establishment. He was taken to a nearby public hospital with lacerations to the face and a possible broken nose.

The Mera25 political party leader was dining in a restaurant in the central Exarchia district, a well-known “hub” for self-styled anarchists and anti-state groupings in the Greek capital.

The disturbing incident marked the second time that Varoufakis has been publicly harassed while dining in the same district, as a group of self-styled anarchists harassed him back in 2015, at the height of the Greek bailout crisis.

No information was given on who and how many people were in Varoufakis’ company during the incident.

Government spokesman Yannis Economou later issued a statement sharply condemning the assault.