Telegram Founder Offers to Buy Stolen Louvre Jewels Amid Museum Heist

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has offered to buy back the jewelry stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris and donate it to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, citing that the UAE museum is better protected against theft. The brazen daylight heist involved the theft of several priceless jewels from the Apollo Gallery, including items linked to historical figures like Empress Eugénie and Queen Marie Amalie. Durov criticized the French government for focusing on imaginary threats instead of real security issues, calling the theft a sign of the decline of a once-great country. He also highlighted his past conflicts with French authorities, including his arrest in France and opposition to laws requiring messaging apps to scan private messages. Durov's comments underscore broader concerns about privacy and governance in Europe, while emphasizing the security advantages of the Louvre's branch in Abu Dhabi. The stolen jewels have not yet been recovered, and the thieves remain at large following the unprecedented museum robbery.