The Documentary Podcast Who's behind Europe's largest rare book heist?
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Sep 13, 2025 
Nina Nazarova, a BBC Russian journalist, dives into the intriguing world of Europe's largest rare book heist, which targeted libraries across 12 countries. She reveals how these valuable works, including editions by Pushkin, were stolen with surprising ease due to inadequate security. The investigation, dubbed Operation Pushkin, uncovers the sophisticated methods thieves employed and the cultural significance of the stolen treasures. Nazarova also shares insights into the motivations driving these audacious crimes and the challenges faced by libraries in protecting their collections.
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Fake Refugee Act At Tartu Library
- Two men posed as Ukrainian refugees and repeatedly requested eight old Russian editions at Tartu library in April 2022.
- Months later librarians found those originals replaced by meticulously made mock-up covers with library stamps.
Tighten Rare-Book Security Measures
- Reinstate strict supervised reading-room procedures and limit unsupervised loans for rare editions.
- Strengthen CCTV and provenance checks to deter prepared criminals with fake copies.
Access Rules Create Theft Risk
- Rare books are normally issued under strict procedures and read in supervised reading rooms to prevent theft.
- Variations in library rules and more permissive access create vulnerabilities thieves can exploit.