US EditionPoland Detains Russian Museum Official on Ukrainian Warrant for Illegal Crimea Excavations
Alexander Butyagin faces 40 days detention in Poland as Ukraine seeks extradition over alleged unauthorized digs damaging Crimean cultural heritage.
- On December 11, Polish authorities detained Alexander Butyagin, head of ancient archaeology at the State Hermitage Museum , while he transited through Poland, RMF FM reported.
- In November 2024, Kyiv charged Butyagin with illegal excavation at Myrmekion in Kerch, annexed Crimea, alleging more than $4.75 million in damage and unlawful exploitation of occupied territory.
- Polish media reported Butyagin was transiting between the Netherlands and a Balkan country when detained, and his lawyer plans to appeal while he faces up to 10 years if extradited to Ukraine.
- The Kremlin condemned the arrest as legal arbitrariness and Dmitry Peskov called it legal abuse, vowing Russian diplomats would seek his release while urging Russian citizens to avoid travel to Poland.
- Ukraine's Defense Intelligence published the HUR report detailing more than 170 artifacts stolen from occupied territories, while Kyiv says Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 involves unlawful exploitation under international law.
40 Articles
40 Articles
The respected archaeologist has been excavating in Crimea for many years, but now that this Ukrainian territory is occupied by Russia, this is seen as a criminal offense.
Polish authorities have arrested a Russian archaeologist wanted by Ukraine on charges of destroying parts of an ancient city in Crimea, the BBC reports. Russia has warned Poland that the arrest "will not go unpunished."
The Warsaw court will remain in prison for the suspicion of destroying part of Myrmekion in Crimea. Kremlin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, accused the countries of "purity of legal tyrania".
Russia is warning Poland of the consequences of the arrest of a Russian archaeologist. Alexander Butyagin was arrested in Warsaw on Friday at the request of Ukraine. Ukraine accuses him of conducting illegal excavations at a former Greek settlement in Crimea. Crimea is part of Ukraine but was annexed by Russia in 2014 after Russian troops seized power. "We hope that Poland will understand the absurdity of accusing a respected Russian archaeologi…
Poland detains Russian archaeologist accused of damaging cultural sites in occupied Crimea
Polish authorities have detained Alexander Butyagin, a Russian archaeologist accused of causing extensive damage to historical sites in occupied Crimea, at the request of Ukraine's prosecutor general, Polish media reported Dec. 11.
"Poland has not changed its shoes" — for which a simple Russian archaeologist was arrested: EADaily
EADaily, December 11th, 2025. Poland is turning around after Hungary and Slovakia is moving away from the dogmas about European solidarity, which determine the support of Ukraine, towards national egoism, and not towards Russia. This was stated by political scientist Alexander Nosovich…
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