A passion for Russian classics landed Georgian citizens in a French prison

In France, six Georgian citizens received prison sentences ranging from 18 months to seven years on charges of stealing rare books by Russian writers from European libraries.

The defendants in the case are five men and a woman. Only four of them were present at the hearing; the other two were previously detained and sentenced to five years each.

As reported by media, Georgia has not extradited its citizens. A Paris court sentenced them in absentia to six years each.

Courts in other countries have sentenced two more defendants in the case. Specifically, the main defendant, Mikhail Z. (Zamtaradze), sentenced to seven years in prison in the French capital, was previously given three years and four months in Lithuania. He was extradited to France for trial.

The criminal prosecution is based on the charge of theft of at least 170 valuable books worth approximately €2.5 million from libraries in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Switzerland between 2022 and 2023. These were primarily rare editions of Russian writers, including Alexander Pushkin and Nikolai Gogol. Some of the stolen books were sold at auctions in Moscow and St. Petersburg. According to the BBC Russian Service, during the court hearing, Zamtaradze said he had received an order for the books from Moscow.

Последние новости
Draft of Armenia’s New Constitution to Be Presented in November; Pashinyan Suggests Pressure on Opposition
Politics
Draft of Armenia’s New Constitution to Be Presented in November; Pashinyan Suggests Pressure on Opposition
2 November 2026

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced that the government plans to publish a draft of a new Constitution in November. Following this, the authorities intend to hold public discussions, gather proposals from citizens, and continue consultations until the document has been sufficiently reviewed by society. The Prime Minister made these remarks during a meeting of parliamentary committees, where the 2027 state budget draft was being discussed, as reported by Armenpress.

Ukrainian drones attack the Don and Kuban regions
Chronicle of Wars and Crimes
Ukrainian drones attack the Don and Kuban regions
2 November 2026

On the morning of November 2, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the interception and destruction of 212 Ukrainian UAVs over Russian territory, occupied Crimea, and the waters of the Black and Azov Seas. Among the Russian regions targeted were the Rostov Oblast and the Krasnodar Krai.

From Heydar Aliyev’s associate to a
Politics
From Heydar Aliyev’s associate to a "conspirator" against his son: the political downfall of Ramiz Mehdiyev
1 November 2026

In Azerbaijan, former Presidential Chief of Staff Ramiz Mehdiyev has been given a 14-year suspended prison sentence. The 88-year-old, a long-time associate of Heydar Aliyev, was found guilty of high treason, attempting to seize power by force, accepting bribes, and money laundering. According to investigators, he was plotting a coup and attempting to secure support from Moscow. *Novaya Gazeta Europe* notes that the charges implicate not only the former official but also opposition leader Ali Karimli.

Russian Foreign Ministry: Report on refusal to accept new Armenian ambassador “does not correspond to reality”
Politics
Russian Foreign Ministry: Report on refusal to accept new Armenian ambassador “does not correspond to reality”
1 November 2026

The Russian Foreign Ministry has commented on a report by the newspaper *Hraparak* claiming that Moscow rejected the candidacy of Samvel Mkrtchyan, who was being considered for the post of Armenian ambassador to Russia, RBC reports.