Polish court remands Russian archaeologist in custody for looting in Crimea

A Warsaw court has ruled to keep Russian archaeologist and Hermitage Museum employee Alexander Butyagin in custody until March 4. The researcher was detained by the Polish special services on the basis of an international arrest warrant issued by the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine.

This was reported by the Polish edition of RMF24.

The Hermitage employee was detained in Poland in early December 2025 at the request of the Ukrainian side due to illegal excavations in the occupied Crimea, in particular on the territory of the ancient city of Myrmekion in Kerch. The Polish court has already confirmed that the actions incriminated to the scientist have analogues in Polish law, and the statute of limitations has not expired.

The detention caused a sharp reaction from the Kremlin and provoked an international discussion about the status of archaeological work in the occupied territories. Supporters of the detention emphasize that such excavations are part of a large-scale robbery of Ukraine's cultural heritage, the total damage from which UNESCO estimates at more than $3.5 billion. At the same time, the defense and representatives of the Hermitage are trying to present these works as purely scientific activities, promising not to take the findings outside the peninsula, except for 'temporary exhibitions' in St. Petersburg.

The final decision on the extradition of Oleksandr Butyagin to Kyiv is to be made by the court next Thursday. If no legal obstacles to extradition are found, the Minister of Justice of Poland will have to sign the document. Currently, the court believes that the Russian's release from custody is impossible due to the risk of escape, as he has no ties or permanent residence in Poland.

Катерина Глушко