ISTANBUL

Greenpeace activists stole a wax figure of French President Emmanuel Macron from a Paris museum Monday and placed it in front of the Russian Embassy in protest over France's trade ties with Russia.

"At 10:30 this morning, Greenpeace France activists borrowed the statue of Emmanuel Macron from the Grevin Museum, arguing that he does not deserve to be exhibited in this world-renowned cultural institution until he has terminated French contracts with Russia and initiated an ambitious and lasting ecological transition on a European scale," Greenpeace France confirmed in a press release.

The activists protested against France’s ongoing transactions with Russia, particularly regarding gas, nuclear energy and chemical fertilizers.

"Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Emmanuel Macron has portrayed himself as a champion of resistance against the Russian army while continuing to actively trade with Russia in strategic sectors such as gas, chemical fertilizers and nuclear energy," Greenpeace noted in its statement.

They further urged France and the European Union to phase out fossil fuels and called for an end to nuclear fuel imports linked to Russia.

"Greenpeace France is calling for the implementation of sanctions on imports of Russian chemical fertilizers and the cessation of these imports into French and European soil, without shifting this dependence onto other countries," the statement added.