Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has sparked controversy online after he offered to buy back and return jewelry stolen from Paris’s Louvre museum — but with a twist. The tech billionaire said he would only return them to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, saying the treasures would be “safer in the UAE than in France”.
Durov’s comments came just days after four unidentified suspects pulled off a daring daylight robbery at the world-famous museum, making off with an estimated $102 million worth of jewelry (about ₹850 million crowns). Thieves – still on the run – allegedly broke into the Apollo Gallery on October 19 and stole eight royal artefacts, including crowns, brooches and emerald necklaces once owned by Empress Eugénie and Empress Marie-Louise.
Pavel Durov’s reaction
After weighing in on the incident, the 39-year-old Telegram founder took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disbelief — and criticism — of the French authorities.
“I’m not at all surprised by the Louvre robbery. It’s another sad symptom of the decline of a once-great country — where the government has perfected the art of distracting people with phantom threats instead of confronting real ones,” Durov wrote.
He followed up with another post that quickly went viral:
“I like to buy stolen jewels and donate them back to the Louvre. I mean of course the Louvre Abu Dhabi; nobody steals at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.”
The comment was widely read as a sarcastic jab at security standards in Europe compared to those in the Middle East. Many users on X called his remark “provocative”, while others said it reflected growing tensions between Western and Gulf institutions over cultural heritage and museum security.
How the robbery took place
According to French officials, the thieves entered the Apollo Gallery through a window using a ladder mounted on a forklift. They allegedly cut through the glass with an angle grinder and fled the scene on scooters – completing the heist within minutes.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said authorities suspected organized crime involvement due to the precision and speed of the operation.
Among the items stolen, with an estimated value of 88 million euros, were two crowns, a sapphire necklace, a set of emerald earrings and several historical brooches.
The Louvre’s global connection
Opened in 2017 as part of a cultural collaboration between France and the United Arab Emirates, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is one of the most prestigious museums in the Middle East. Durov’s comments sparked a new debate about the security and preservation of priceless artefacts, with some users agreeing that the UAE’s modern systems could offer stronger protection, while others criticized his tone as dismissive of French cultural heritage.
As of now, the French authorities are continuing to search for the four suspects. The stolen jewels remain unaccounted for.
