Seven Georgians Tried in France for Rare Book Thefts

Seven Georgian nationals face trial in Paris for stealing rare editions of Russian literary classics from prestigious French libraries, including works by Alexander Pushkin and Nikolai Gogol. The defendants are charged with criminal conspiracy and theft of cultural objects, with sentences up to 10 years possible. Two are being tried in absentia. Two others—Mikheil Z., 50, and Beqa T., 49—were previously convicted in Lithuania and Estonia respectively for similar organized thefts of 19th-century publications valued at hundreds of thousands of euros. French investigators believe the defendants were part of an organized criminal network responsible for thefts across Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. The case prompted creation of a joint investigation team by Europol and Eurojust, leading to multiple arrests in 2024.