#mendoni

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Actors demand resignation of Culture Minister after arrest of ex National Theater director

Pressure is growing on Greece’s Culture Minister Lina Mendoni to resign in the aftermath of the arrest of the now former artistic director of the National Theater on multiple counts of rape including ones involving teenager boys. Call for resignation came also from a member of ruling New Democracy.is  also political with an MEP of ruling part New Democracy.

Actors gathered outside the Culture Ministry on Monday morning with banners calling on Mendoni to resign and demanding for “Justice now.”

A large part of the Greek theater and film world sharply criticizes the Culture Minister for wrong handling of Dimitris Lignadis case and accuse her of trying to cover up.

Actors, Students of the National theater School and Culture Ministry workers jointed their voices against Lina Mendoni.

On Sunday, seven members of the board of directors of Thessaloniki International Film Festival also asked for her resignation. The cultural institution runs under the auspices of the Culture Ministry.

In posts on social media, prominent actors and actresses called on the minister to resign.

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Of human vanity: Plaque on the Acropolis for sponsors and culture ministers

For one more time, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni came under fire on Tuesday, after revelations that she plan to have a plaque on the Acropolis with her name along with the name the sponsor who paid for the cement paths and the eleveator for people with disabilities.

Worth noting: neither Pericles who coordinated the construction of the site’s most important monument, the Parthenon, has a plaque with his name, nor sculptor Phidias nor Ictinus and Callicrates, the famous architects, who were responsible for the construction.

The revelations became public after the contract of the deal with the sponsor was submitted to the Parliament and excerpts of the controversial passage leaked to the press.

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This week’s newsletter from AthensLive is out: * Greece opens up everything with hospitals full and vaccinations low. * Dead refugee found surrounded by rats in Greek camp: End this disgrace now, Greece & Europe! * Greek Culture Minister VS Libération newspaper.

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Greece responded on Friday to Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson, who had earlier ruled out the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens, saying that he had not been properly informed.

In a statement, Greece’s Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni said that the British PM is is not aware of the new historical data, which prove that Lord Elgin did not legitimately acquire the Marbles.

“It is clear that he has not been properly informed by the competent state services of his country of the new historical data regarding Greece’s occupation by the Ottomans,” Mendoni says.

She adds that the new data “show that there has was never a legitimate acquisition of the Parthenon Sculptures by Lord Elgin and, therefore, neither has the British Museum ever acquired the Sculptures in a legitimate manner.”

“The Ministry of Culture and Sports can provide the necessary documentary evidence that can inform the British people that the British Museum possesses the Sculptures illegally,” Mendoni says in her statement.

She concludes by stressing that the “British Museum does not have legitimate ownership or possession of the Sculptures.

“The Parthenon, as a symbol of UNESCO and Western Civilisation, reflects universal values. We are all obliged to work towards this direction.”

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Greek Culture Minister Mendoni Slams British Museum Over Parthenon Gallery's Condition

Lina Mendoni, Greece’s Minister of Culture and Sports, issued a statement on Wednesday morning regarding the condition of the British Museum gallery which houses the Parthenon sculptures.

“The situation, as presented in photographs published in the press today, is very frustrating for the British Museum, and extremely offensive to the exhibits themselves, especially when these exhibits are no other than the Parthenon Sculptures”, Mendoni declared.

The Greek Minister of Culture was referring to a series of photographs taken by Greek tourists who visited the Museum recently and found out that the ceiling of the gallery is visibly stained and has been partially destroyed by water leaking into the London building..

It is noted that in the winter of 2018, during a day with very heavy rain, rainwater entered the room itself, after penetrating the already-damaged roof. The water kept falling next to the precious exhibits for days on end, raising concerns over the Museum’s desire, or its ability, to safeguard these global archaeological treasures.

”The abandonment shown in the pictures from the British Museum reinforces Greece’s rightful demand for the Sculptures’ permanent return to Athens and their reunification with the Parthenon,” Mendoni concluded.