In a dramatic protest, Greenpeace activists disguised themselves to steal a waxwork of President Emmanuel Macron from the Grevin Museum in Paris, placing it outside the Russian embassy to criticize his trade policies amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Environmental Activists Steal Macron's Wax Figure in Paris Protest
Environmental Activists Steal Macron's Wax Figure in Paris Protest
Greenpeace targets French president's stance on Russian trade by relocating wax figure to Russian embassy.
In a theatrical act of protest, environmental activists affiliated with Greenpeace managed to steal a wax figure of French President Emmanuel Macron from the Grevin Museum in Paris. Posing as museum employees and tourists, the activists cleverly disguised themselves before launching their operation. According to a police source, they covered the statue with a blanket and exited the premises through an emergency door.
The waxwork was later showcased outside the Russian embassy in Paris, where activists rallied against Macron's perceived inconsistency in supporting Ukraine while still allowing French enterprises to maintain business ties with Russia following its invasion. The displayed figure of Macron was accompanied by signs and placards aimed at highlighting this contradiction.
Jean-Francois Julliard, the leader of Greenpeace France, argued that Paris is “playing a double game,” criticizing Macron for allowing French companies to continue importing gas and fertilizers from Russia. He stated that the French president "embodies this double discourse," and called for France to take a firmer stance by ending trade contracts with Russian entities.
Recent analyses reveal that despite sanctions, Russia has continued to secure significant revenue from fossil fuel exports to the West, including the European Union. A report indicated that since the onset of the invasion in 2022, Russia has amassed over €883 billion from these exports, with a substantial portion coming from EU member states, including €17.9 billion from France alone.
While France has shown support for Ukraine through military aid and sanctions against Russia, President Macron has also signaled the need for more punitive measures if Moscow fails to cooperate in peace negotiations. As of now, no arrests have been made concerning the theft of the wax figure, which has been valued at approximately €40,000.
