A judge in Poland has ruled that Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin can be extradited to Ukraine, although his defence has indicated plans to appeal the decision.
Butyagin is currently detained in a Warsaw prison, facing allegations of illegal excavations and theft of artefacts from the ancient city of Myrmekion in Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014. If Judge Dariusz Łubowski's ruling is upheld, the matter will ultimately require approval from Poland's justice minister.
Arrested in December at Ukraine's request, Butyagin has denied all charges against him. If convicted, he faces a potential prison sentence of up to five years. Russia has demanded his immediate release, calling the case politically motivated.
Since Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, European courts have generally been hesitant to extradite Russians to Ukraine, citing concerns over potential violations of the European Convention on Human Rights. Butyagin's lawyer has claimed that his client's life could be at risk if he is sent to Ukraine.
Butyagin is well-known for overseeing excavations at Myrmekion, an ancient Greek settlement founded in Crimea during the 6th century BC. Although his initial research was approved by Ukraine, it continued without consent following the region's annexation.
In November 2024, Ukraine's state security service indicated they had gathered evidence against a Russian national, believed to be Butyagin, for looting cultural heritage sites in Crimea. Ahead of his trial, Butyagin expressed a desire to change his life but refrained from commenting on returning to work in occupied Crimea if his appeal is successful.
