Following the British Museum’s decision to lend one of the Elgin Marbles - the headless statue of Greek river-god Ilissos - to the Hermitage Museum in Russia, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras issued the following statement:

"The decision by the British Museum to give out on loan one of the Parthenon sculptures for exhibit in Saint- Petersburg is an affront to the Greek people. The British argument held until recently – that the Parthenon Marbles cannot be moved - is no longer valid; just as the existence of the new Acropolis Museum invalidated the other British argument that there was no appropriate space for exhibiting the sculptures. The Parthenon and its Marbles have been looted. The sculptures are priceless. We Greeks are one with our history and civilization, which cannot be broken up, loaned out, or conceded."

It is noted that this is the first time that the Elgin Marbles leave London.