Activists steal Macron waxwork from French museum to highlight trade with Russia

Environmental activists sneaked away with a wax statue of President Emmanuel Macron from a Paris museum to protest France’s business connections with Russia and climate change. Greenpeace France stated on Monday that they had “borrowed” the model from the Grévin Museum to shed light on the contracts involving gas, chemical fertilizers, and nuclear power between the two nations, which they claim are funding the conflict in Ukraine.

The activists managed to take the figure out through an emergency exit while one of them distracted the receptionist. The museum spokesperson mentioned that the door alarm was triggered as they left. Greenpeace assured the museum director that the statue would be returned.

The wax figure was later seen outside the Russian Embassy in Paris. A Greenpeace spokesperson confirmed that the operation was well-planned to avoid any conflicts with museum security. Macron’s office did not comment immediately.

The protesters aim to return the wax figure to the museum, but the timing remains uncertain. No arrests have been made, and the statue, valued at 40,000 euros ($45,674), is still missing. France, Belgium, and Spain are significant importers of liquefied natural gas from Russia, contributing to the revenue generated by Russia’s fossil fuel exports since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Greenpeace France director Jean-Francois Julliard emphasized the need for coherence in supporting Ukraine while reducing imports of gas, chemical fertilizers, and uranium from Russia. Macron, along with other European leaders, has been trying to negotiate a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.