After the Russian Red Army occupied independent Georgia, the renowned Georgian historian and researcher, Eqvtime Takaishvili, was entrusted with the incredibly difficult task of safely transporting most of Georgia's treasures abroad to protect them from the Soviet regime, ensuring their intact return. Over the course of 25 painstaking and perilous years, Eqvtime managed to bring back all the treasures without any losses. Upon his return, the 82-year-old Eqvtime faced questioning by KGB General Nikoloz Rukhadze. He was subsequently expelled from the University of Georgia, sentenced to house arrest, and prohibited from receiving visits from friends and family; many of whom were also arrested.
