Greek Minister was ‘Attacked by Anarchists with Glass Objects’

The statement said Varoufakis's wife stepped between him and the attackers in order to shield him.

Varoufakis was swarmed by media as he arrived at the finance ministry, eager for details of the attack, but the minister made no comments, only laughing as he entered the building.

The incident took place on Tuesday evening, according to the statement, as the couple had just finished dining with a friend in the bohemian Exarchia district, the scene of many clashes between anarchists and police.

The group of attackers entered the restaurant's inner courtyard, cursing at Varoufakis and telling him and his wife to leave "their area".

Varoufakis said his wife, an artist, blocked the attack.

"Danae, before the anarchist/anti-establishment group got near us – and before I could stop her – she stood up and hugged me with strength, turning her back to them, so you they would have to hit her first before they could hit me," Varoufakis wrote in the statement released by his ministry.

Intense dialogue calmed things down

Then "they retreated fast continuing their curses and threats, got out of the courtyard and waited for us outside the restaurant," Varoufakis added.

He said he then engaged them in an "intense dialogue" for 15 minutes, after which things calmed down.

"I started a dialogue with them, saying that I wanted to hear them out, even if that meant that I would be hit," said Varoufakis.

The minister said he thought the group was more interested in embarrassing him than injuring him.

"Regardless of the fear and aversion that arbitrary violence causes us, the answer to these people's anger and acts of violence cannot and should not be either a retreat nor a violent restraint," Varoufakis wrote.

Varoufakis was sidelined by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in a reshuffle of Greece's negotiating team with EU/IMF lenders on Monday after slow progress in negotiations over reforms to unlock aid.

The economist, who is known for his many media appearances and casual style, has won fans in Greece for opposing austerity policies but has also garnered criticism at home and with partners abroad for his outspokenness.

By Musalia Wycliffe

Source: Reuters