Armed Man Climbs onto Imperial Throne in Hermitage, Delivers Message to Putin

Hermitage Incident

According to Главком: A 46-year-old man from the Leningrad region, named Alexander, caused a disturbance in the St. George Hall of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg by climbing onto the Grand Imperial Throne. He produced knives and read a statement directed at Vladimir Putin. Law enforcement officers subsequently detained him and are considering opening a criminal case.

Alexander, born in Leningrad and officially residing in the village of Gorbunki in the Lomonosovsky District, is the father of three children-two daughters and a son. He has been involved in at least four business ventures, some of which have been dissolved. One of his IT companies ended 2025 with financial losses.

Comparison with Past Incidents

This event echoes a previous case from March 2025, when Alexander Drobyshev sat on a museum exhibit for a selfie. The Kalininsky District Court fined him 847,000 rubles (approximately $10,700) for damaging the throne of the Master of the Order of Malta. The penalty covered 825,800 rubles for restoration work and 21,500 rubles in court fees.

The damage to that throne included a deformed seat, tears and wear to the velvet fabric, cracks on the footstool, and mechanical flaws in the decorative elements. Notably, that throne was crafted between 1799 and 1800 for Tsar Paul I and is housed in Hall No. 172 of the Winter Palace.

Incidents at the Hermitage are raising concerns in cultural circles, as they threaten to harm historical artifacts. As of now, authorities are stepping up measures to ensure museum security and prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The operations of museums like the Hermitage are a vital part of cultural heritage, and such incidents jeopardize the preservation of unique exhibits.

Author: unknown

Law enforcement and museum administrations must adopt additional safeguards to protect cultural treasures and avoid a repeat of these events. Specific measures could include:

• increased patrols,
• installation of video surveillance,
• public awareness campaigns to educate visitors on the importance of following museum rules.