In an audacious act of activism, Greenpeace members in Paris have stolen a wax figure of President Emmanuel Macron from the Grevin Museum, underscoring their stance against continued French trade relations with Russia amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Activists Steal Macron's Waxwork to Protest French-Russian Trade Ties

Activists Steal Macron's Waxwork to Protest French-Russian Trade Ties
Environmental protesters take a provocative stance against President Macron's policies regarding Russia.
A daring group of Greenpeace activists executed a bold theft of a waxwork figure representing French President Emmanuel Macron from the Grevin Museum in Paris. Disguised as museum employees, they staged their heist by initially entering the museum pretending to be tourists. Once inside, they changed into work attire, covered the statue with a blanket, and swiftly exited through an emergency exit, according to a police source who spoke to the French agency AFP.
The wax figure made its eventual appearance outside the Russian embassy in Paris, where the activists publicly denounced Macron's policies towards French companies that are still maintaining business operations in Russia despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. Macron, despite being a strong advocate for Ukraine, has faced criticism for this perceived inconsistency in his stance on Russian trade.
Visual footage captured by onlookers showcased the activists placing the waxwork in front of the embassy, surrounded by a series of signs and placards that articulated their message. As of now, no arrests have been made regarding the incident, and the statue, valued at around €40,000 (£33,765; $45,674), remains unaccounted for.
Jean-Francois Julliard, the head of Greenpeace France, commented to AFP that the French government is engaged in a "double game," expressing support for Ukraine while simultaneously allowing French firms to continue gas and fertilizer imports from Russia. He emphasized that Macron should lead the way among European leaders in severing trade ties with Russian enterprises.
Recent data analysis indicated that Russia has received over €883 billion (£740 billion; $973 billion) in revenue from fossil fuel exports since commencing its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, out of which French imports contributed significantly. Following this trend, Russian estimates suggest that gas exports to Europe could increase by up to 20% in the coming year, with liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports reaching unprecedented levels.
In addition to military support for Ukraine, France has enacted sanctions against Russia and prominent Russian individuals since the onset of the conflict. Macron has also indicated the possibility of implementing additional sanctions should Russia fail to engage constructively in negotiations for peace.