French court tries seven Georgians over theft of rare Russian books
Summary
Seven Georgian nationals are being tried in Paris for stealing rare Russian books from French libraries. The thefts are part of a larger network of similar crimes affecting libraries across Europe. Some of the accused have already been convicted in other countries, and the stolen books have not been recovered.Key Facts
- Seven Georgians face trial in Paris for stealing rare Russian literary works.
- The stolen books include works by famous writers like Alexander Pushkin and Nikolai Gogol.
- The thefts occurred in 2023 at libraries in Lyon and Paris, including the National Library of France.
- The suspects are charged with criminal conspiracy and theft, facing up to 10 years in prison.
- Two defendants are being tried without being present, and warrants are issued for their arrest.
- Some accused have been convicted in Lithuania and Estonia for similar crimes.
- The thefts triggered a joint European investigation involving Europol and Eurojust.
- Investigators believe the thefts may be linked to efforts to return cultural works to Russia amid tense Europe-Russia relations.
- None of the stolen books have been recovered so far.
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