'We don't want to fix his hair every day': Museum removes waxwork of Vladimir Putin after it was damaged by visitors

A museum in Paris has removed its wax figure of Russian President Vladimir Putin after it was damaged by visitors in protest against the invasion of Ukraine.

The Grevin Museum is now considering replacing the waxwork, which was created in 2000, with a model of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Museum director Yves Delhommeau told France Bleu radio: "Today is it no longer possible to present a character like
him (Mr Putin)...for the first time in the museum's history we are withdrawing a statue because of historical events currently under way."

The waxwork is looking dishevelled after it was vandalised over the weekend, Mr Delhommeau said.

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"Given what has happened, we and our staff do not want to have to fix his hair and appearance every day," he added.

A museum spokesman said it was not clear under what circumstances the waxwork might return.

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Asked who might now replace Mr Putin in the empty spot between the statues of US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Mr Delhommeau said it might be Ukraine's Mr Zelenskyy.

"Maybe president Zelenskyy will take his place...he has become a hero for having resisted and for not fleeing his
country. He could perfectly well take his place his among the great men of history and today," he said.

In 2014, following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, a demonstrator with "Kill Putin" painted across her bare chest stabbed the waxwork and smashed its head.

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