Telegram CEO links Louvre robbery to France’s decline

Telegram founder and CEo Pavel Durov has once again criticized the French government, claiming that the robbery at Pari’s Louvre Museum reflects the country’s decline, Caliber.Az reports.

In a post on X, Durov said: “Not at all surprised by the Louvre heist. It’s another sad sign of the decline of a once great country — where the government has perfected the art of distracting people with phantom threats instead of confronting the real ones.”

In a follow-up post, Durov offered to buy back the stolen items, adding with irony: “Happy to buy the stolen jewelry and donate it back to the Louvre. I mean Louvre Abu Dhabi, of course; no one steals from Louvre Abu Dhabi.”

On October 19, 2025, a daring robbery took place at the Louvre Museum in Paris, during which eight priceless jewelry pieces from the French crown collection were stolen. The crime occurred around 9:30 a.m., just 30 minutes after the museum opened to visitors.

The thieves, disguised in construction vests, used a lift mounted on a truck to reach the second floor and gain access to the Apollo Gallery, where the treasures were displayed. They sawed through glass cases and stole items including tiaras, necklaces, and brooches belonging to Empresses Joséphine and Eugénie, as well as Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense.

The operation lasted only seven minutes. During their escape, the criminals dropped Empress Eugénie’s crown, which was later recovered damaged. Some tools and their vehicle were left behind at the scene.

French officials described the robbery as highly professional. Culture Minister Rachida Dati called it a “professional operation,” while Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledged serious security shortcomings at the museum.

In response, the French authorities reviewed security measures across cultural institutions nationwide. The Louvre was closed for two days, and a Special Brigade for Combatting Banditry led the investigation.

By Khagan Isayev