Environmental activists from Greenpeace France staged a dramatic protest by taking a waxwork of President Emmanuel Macron from the Grévin Museum in Paris to highlight France’s ongoing business ties with Russia amidst the Ukraine conflict. The protest aimed to draw attention to contracts relating to gas, chemical fertilizers, and nuclear power that allegedly finance the war in Ukraine. Greenpeace’s statement criticized Macron’s contradictory stance, noting that despite his international speeches of solidarity, France still financially supports Moscow through these imports.
The activists executed their plan seamlessly, entering the museum as regular visitors, covering the statue with a blanket, and swiftly transporting it to a waiting car without confrontation from security. Macron’s office had no immediate comment, and the Grévin Museum was unaware of the planned action. The wax figure later appeared outside the Russian Embassy in Paris, accompanied by protesters.
Greenpeace emphasized that as long as these dependencies on Russian imports remain, efforts to restore peace in Ukraine and reinforce the strategic sovereignty of France and the EU would be undermined. They expressed intent to return the statue to the museum, though a timeline for this was not established. No arrests were made, and the statue, valued at approximately €40,000 ($45,674), has yet to be recovered.
As the war in Ukraine continues into its fourth year, Macron and other European leaders are attempting to mediate a ceasefire. Nevertheless, reports indicate that France remains one of the top importers of liquefied natural gas from Russia, complicating its position in supporting Ukraine while continuing these vital imports. Greenpeace’s director highlighted the inconsistency in supporting Ukraine while still engaging in significant imports from Russia.
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