In a bold act of protest, Greenpeace activists have stolen a waxwork figure of President Emmanuel Macron from a Paris museum, demonstrating their opposition to France's ongoing business ties with Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.
Activists Steal Macron's Waxwork in Protest Against Russian Trade Relations
Activists Steal Macron's Waxwork in Protest Against Russian Trade Relations
Environmental activists target French President's likeness to highlight hypocrisy in Ukraine support
The waxwork figure of French President Emmanuel Macron mysteriously vanished from the Grevin Museum in Paris, taken by environmental activists masquerading as museum employees. According to a police source relayed to AFP, the activists entered the museum under the guise of tourists before changing into work attire, wrapping the wax figure in a blanket, and making their exit through an emergency door. The statue of Macron later appeared outside the Russian embassy in Paris, where activists condemned his government's dual approach to relations with Russia, particularly in continued business dealings despite the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The waxwork figure, valued at an estimated €40,000 (roughly $45,674), remains missing, and no arrests have been reported up to this point. Jean-Francois Julliard, head of Greenpeace France, criticized Macron's leadership, stating that France is playing a “double game”—expressing support for Ukraine while allowing French companies to continue vital imports from Russia. Julliard emphasized that Macron personifies this contradictory stance and should be the first among European leaders to terminate contracts with Russian enterprises.
The tension around the North-South division and fossil fuel imports is stark, as analyses reveal that since the beginning of the invasion in 2022, Russia has amassed over €883 billion in revenue from fossil fuel exports, with a considerable portion coming from European countries, including France itself. Greenpeace's protest reflects broader frustrations with how countries, including France, are balancing moral and economic interests in a global landscape fraught with conflict and humanitarian implications.
In addition to military support for Ukraine, France has imposed several sanctions on Russian entities. Macron has indicated that further economic measures could be executed if Russia fails to engage meaningfully in ceasefire negotiations. As the geopolitical landscape evolves, protests like this underscore the complex interplay between domestic policies, international relations, and environmental advocacy.
The waxwork figure, valued at an estimated €40,000 (roughly $45,674), remains missing, and no arrests have been reported up to this point. Jean-Francois Julliard, head of Greenpeace France, criticized Macron's leadership, stating that France is playing a “double game”—expressing support for Ukraine while allowing French companies to continue vital imports from Russia. Julliard emphasized that Macron personifies this contradictory stance and should be the first among European leaders to terminate contracts with Russian enterprises.
The tension around the North-South division and fossil fuel imports is stark, as analyses reveal that since the beginning of the invasion in 2022, Russia has amassed over €883 billion in revenue from fossil fuel exports, with a considerable portion coming from European countries, including France itself. Greenpeace's protest reflects broader frustrations with how countries, including France, are balancing moral and economic interests in a global landscape fraught with conflict and humanitarian implications.
In addition to military support for Ukraine, France has imposed several sanctions on Russian entities. Macron has indicated that further economic measures could be executed if Russia fails to engage meaningfully in ceasefire negotiations. As the geopolitical landscape evolves, protests like this underscore the complex interplay between domestic policies, international relations, and environmental advocacy.
