On Monday, June 2, Greenpeace activists stole a wax statue of French President Emmanuel Macron from the Grévin Museum in Paris and placed it outside the Russian Embassy in a pointed protest against France’s ongoing economic ties with Moscow.
According to police sources, the operation involved two women and a man who entered the museum disguised as tourists. Once inside, they changed into maintenance outfits, distracted a security guard with a question about accessibility, and slipped out through an emergency exit with the statue, valued at approximately €40,000, concealed under coverings.
The museum later reported that Greenpeace had called to assure them the statue would be returned unharmed. “They had clearly done their research,” a museum spokesperson told Agence France-Presse.
The stunt lasted only a few minutes. Activists staged the wax figure outside the Russian Embassy, hoisted a Russian flag behind it, and scattered fake banknotes around. One protester held a placard reading, “Business is business.”
Greenpeace France director Jean-François Julliard said the action targeted France’s continued trade with Russia in sectors such as gas, fertilizer, and nuclear energy. “France is playing a double game,” he said. “Emmanuel Macron supports Ukraine, yet allows French companies to continue doing business with Russia. He should be the first to cut these ties.”
