Two serious incidents targeting university officials were recorded in the last 24 hours in Athens and Thessaloniki. In Thessaloniki, a group of students attacked the vice-rector of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Iakobos Michailidis, while in Athens members of Rouvikonas caused vandalism at the apartment building where University of Athens professor Vana Nikolaidou-Kyrianidou resides.
Specifically regarding the attack on the vice-rector of Aristotle University, according to an announcement from the university administration, Mr. Michailidis was assaulted by a group of male and female students, supported by faculty members, who were protesting against a unanimous Senate decision regarding the Student Housing Regulations. After the incident, he was reportedly rushed to AHEPA hospital. However, he underwent examinations and did not need to be hospitalized as his health condition is good.
Attacks on university officials in Athens and Thessaloniki: The Aristotle University administration’s announcement
The detailed announcement from the Aristotle University administration reads:
“Today’s attack against the Vice-Rector of International Relations, Outreach, Lifelong Learning and Student Welfare of Aristotle University, Professor Iakobos Michailidis, within the Administration building, constitutes an unacceptable and deeply anti-democratic action that directly targets the proper functioning of the University.
The assault by a group of male and female students, supported by faculty members, aimed at canceling a collective unanimous decision of the Senate regarding the Student Housing Regulations, violates every notion of institutional order and democratic process. Senate decisions are the result of legal, collective and transparent procedures and are not subject to blackmail or pressure.
Due to the intensity and aggressiveness, the Vice-Rector was forced to interrupt a scheduled meeting with an international delegation from the University of Hong Kong and was urgently transferred to AHEPA hospital. Fortunately, his health condition is good. Such phenomena have no place in the public University. They express a slim minority that attempts to impose its will through intimidation means, insulting human dignity, endangering human life and undermining academic freedom and institutional function.
The University Authorities clearly state that they will take all necessary actions to protect the students and staff of the Institution, ensuring its smooth operation. Tolerance for such behaviors is zero. Aristotle University must and will remain a place of knowledge, safety and respect for institutions. Not a field for exercising violence and arbitrary imposition.”
The Anarchist Student Assembly also issued an announcement calling the incident an “intervention” against the vice-rector and demanding no evictions take place.
Statement by Stratos Simopoulos
Regarding the assault on the Aristotle University vice-rector, New Democracy MP Stratos Simopoulos made the following statement: “Not even 24 hours passed from my social media post with a video supporting the decision of Aristotle University authorities to ask dormitory residents to sign contracts taking responsibility for potential damages, and the well-known groups struck.
They assaulted, according to the university administration’s announcement, vice-rector Iakobos Michailidis who was taken to AHEPA hospital.
Their irrational ‘demand’ for no operational regulations in student dormitories they pursue through violence.
They are supported, moreover, by a self-described progressive group of the academic establishment that bears full responsibility for what happened.
I wish the vice-rector a speedy recovery, expressing my support both to him and to the University Administration for their decision to restore order to the unacceptable situation prevailing in student dormitories. All institutional bodies and the state must support the University Authorities in this effort.”
Vandalism at apartment building where University of Athens professor resides
Hours later, members of Rouvikonas wrote slogans at the entrance of Vana Nikolaidou-Kyrianidou’s apartment building. It should be noted that the University of Athens philosophy professor is not being targeted for the first time, as in January 2025, unknown vandals damaged her office, writing antisemitic and pro-Palestinian slogans with spray paint on the walls and throwing leaflets.
Additionally, in September 2024 anti-establishment activists had targeted her with slogans when she supported removing eternal students from universities, while in March 2023, members of the student movement “SAF-EAAK/Independent Cooperation of Philosophy” made interventions such as surrounding the professor’s office and disrupting her classes.
During the same period, Ms. Nikolaidou had complained that she had been targeted by youth party organizations for some time because, as she said, she led the effort to revoke Vladimir Putin’s honorary doctorate from the University of Athens.
