Six Georgians sentenced in Paris for stealing rare Russian books in 'Operation Pushkin'

Six Georgian nationals were convicted in Paris for systematically stealing rare Russian books from prestigious French libraries, replacing them with copies. The operation, dubbed 'Opération Pouchkine,' targeted works by 19th-century poet and novelist Alexander Pushkin and other Russian authors. The thefts occurred across multiple libraries over an extended period. Sentences ranged up to seven years in prison. The case highlights the vulnerability of cultural heritage institutions to sophisticated theft rings.