British Museum ignites row by loaning Elgin Marbles piece to Russia
Greek government blasts move by British Museum to lend piece of collection as an 'affront'
The British Museum has sparked a row across Europe after it allowed a piece of the disputed Elgin Marbles collection to go on show at Russia's Hermitage Museum with the Greek government condemning the loan as "an affront to the Greek people".
One of the British Museum's much-disputed Parthenon Marbles was unveiled on Friday after being sent in secret to Russia - a surprise move that outraged Greece, which has long demanded the return of the artefacts.
The loan of the piece, an elegant depiction of the Greek river god Ilissos, was the first time in two centuries that one of the contested sculpture has left Britain - and raised questions of timing amid growing tension between Russia and the West over Ukraine and other disputes.
"Greeks identify with our history and culture! Which cannot be sliced up, loaned or given away!" Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras fumed in a sharply worded statement punctuated with exclamation points. He described the British Museum's move as a provocation.
On Sunday, Turkey, historically a rival of Greece, announced support for Greece's fight to get the Marbles back.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said: "The return of works of a nation's cultural heritage is very important."