Why did activists steal the wax statue of Emmanuel Macron from Paris' Musée Grévin?
According to reports, activists posing as tourists entered the famous Parisian museum, located in the 9th arrondissement. After posing as museum employees, they managed to steal the statue, worth €40,000, and hid it under a blanket.
A man who identified himself as a member of Greenpeace then contacted the museum to claim responsibility. The museum management immediately informed the police.
The activists then took the statue to the Russian embassy in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, brandishing placards and a banner saying 'Ukraine burns, business continues' to denounce France's economic ties with Russia – specifically French imports of gas and fertiliser from Russia.
Greenpeace said in a statement that it had "borrowed" the statue and explained their action on social media.
'For us, France is playing a double game,' said Jean-Francois Julliard, Director General of Greenpeace France. 'Emmanuel Macron embodies this double discourse: he supports Ukraine but encourages French companies to continue trading with Russia.'
He added: 'We are targeting Emmanuel Macron, because he has a particular responsibility in this situation. He is the one who should be at the forefront of European discussions to put an end to trade contracts between Russia and European countries.'
The protest lasted a few minutes before police intervened.
Two people have been arrested, and no news yet on when the wax statue will head back to the Musée Grévin.
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