Operation Pushkin: Six Georgians sentenced in rare book theft case

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Paris: A French court has convicted six Georgian nationals for their involvement in the theft of rare Russian literary works from major French libraries, as part of a larger criminal operation that targeted cultural institutions around Europe. The stolen volumes included valuable first editions by famous Russian authors including Alexander Pushkin and Nikolai Gogol.

Investigators said the group utilised fabricated identities and high-quality replicas to replace original volumes, letting the thefts to go unnoticed for long periods of time. Authorities estimate that between 2022 and 2023, around 170 rare Russian books worth millions of euros were stolen from libraries across Europe.

The case, named as ‘Operation Pushkin,’ sparked a global investigation led by Europol and Eurojust, resulting in arrests around Europe and Georgia. Prosecutors said the network was highly organised, targeting rare cultural assets sought by collectors.