Seven Georgian nationals to stand trial in Paris for stealing rare books — France 24
A trial is set to begin in Paris for seven Georgian citizens accused of stealing rare editions of Russian classical literature from prestigious French libraries. Investigators believe this is part of an organized scheme to steal valuable rare books.
This trial is the latest in a series of cases aimed at bringing justice regarding a number of similar thefts that have occurred in recent years in libraries across Europe and are suspected to be the work of an organized criminal network.
The thefts targeted rare Russian classics with a total value of millions of euros.
The defendants standing trial in France face charges of criminal conspiracy and intent to commit a crime. Some of them are also charged with the theft of a cultural object. They face up to 10 years in prison.
Two of them are being tried in absentia, and arrest warrants have been issued for them. Two others, identified as Mikheil Z. and Beka T., had already been convicted in other countries for similar crimes and were temporarily transferred to France.
Mikhail Z. was sentenced last year in Lithuania to three years and four months in prison for the organized theft of 19th-century publications worth 606,000 euros.
Beka T., 49, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison in Estonia.
The thefts, which also affected Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic, led to the creation of a joint investigation team under the auspices of Europol and Eurojust, resulting in several arrests in 2024. The crimes in France took place in 2023.
According to France 24, some of the stolen books were later sold at auctions in Russia.
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