Telegram co-founder and CEO Pavel Durov has maintained a critical stance toward French authorities after he was arrested in Paris in 2024.
While some praised Pavel Durov’s comment as a witty critique of Western museum security, others accused him of politicising cultural theft. (Image credit: Instagram)
Telegram co-founder and CEO Pavel Durov has stirred controversy with a sarcastic offer to buy the crown jewels stolen from the Louvre and donate them—not to Paris, but to Louvre Abu Dhabi. His comment, posted on social media days after the $102 million heist, has reignited debate over museum security, cultural restitution, and Durov’s strained relationship with French authorities after his arrest in 2024.
“Happy to buy the stolen jewellery and donate it back to the Louvre. I mean Louvre Abu Dhabi, of course; no one steals from Louvre Abu Dhabi,” Durov wrote in a post on X that quickly went viral. The remark came after four unidentified suspects broke into the Apollo Gallery of the Louvre on October 19 and escaped with eight royal artefacts, including emerald-studded crowns and necklaces once owned by Empress Eugénie and Empress Marie-Louise.
The thieves used a stolen movers’ truck and an extendable ladder to access the gallery, then fled on scooters, dropping one crown in the process. Two suspects have since been arrested—one at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport while attempting to flee to Algeria, and another in the Paris region.
Durov’s jab draws mixed reactions
While some praised Durov’s comment as a witty critique of Western museum security, others accused him of politicising cultural theft. “TRUE! Because in Abu Dhabi, stealing is a crime punishable by death,” one user wrote. Another added, “No, Pavel. We need to protect Western civilisation, and your choice to donate to Louvre Abu Dhabi just because of the mistreatment you experienced from a French Left-wing leader is shameful.”
The backlash references Durov’s arrest in Paris in August 2024 over allegations that Telegram was being used for illicit activities, including drug trafficking and the distribution of child sexual abuse material. Durov has since maintained a critical stance toward French authorities.
Security failures and cultural fallout
The Louvre’s director admitted the robbers exploited a blind spot in the museum’s surveillance system. Investigators recovered gloves, tools, and a damaged crown at the scene, but the remaining jewels are still missing and feared to be dismantled or smuggled abroad.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez expressed concern for the jewellery, warning that “the loot is unfortunately often stashed abroad.” Culture Minister Rachida Dati has called for an urgent review of museum security, while lawmakers have proposed a €50 million emergency fund to protect national heritage.
