A waxwork of Vladimir Putin in France’s iconic Grevin Museum could be replaced with one of Volodymyr Zelensky after the Putin statue was vandalised by visitors over the weekend

Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 03 Mar 2022

The Putin waxwork has entered storage after visitors vandalised the piece following the actions of its real-life counterpart Credit: Grevin/AFP
The Grevin Museum in Paris, France, has removed a waxwork of Vladimir Putin after the model was defaced by visitors following the Russian leader’s invasion of Ukraine.
Founded in 1882, the Grevin is one of the world’s leading waxwork museums. The removal of the Putin work marks the first time in the museum’s 139-year history that a statue has been removed “because of historical events currently underway.”
“Today it is no longer possible to present a character like him,” said museum director Yves Delhommeau, speaking to France Bleu Radio, who added that visitors to the museum over the weekend had vandalised the waxwork, leaving it looking “dishevelled”.
“Given what has happened, we and our staff do not want to have to fix his hair and appearance every day,” he said.
The space that President Putin previously occupied is currently empty. The space stands between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. When asked who would take Putin’s place, Delhommeau said the waxwork could potentially be replaced with Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Maybe President Zelensky will take his place,” he said. “He has become a hero for having resisted and for not fleeing his country. He could perfectly well take his place among the great men of history and today.”
Museums and galleries
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