Poland detained a Russian archaeologist from the Hermitage for excavations in Crimea.

According to ТСН: In Poland, at the request of Ukraine, Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin, who is the head of the Department of Ancient Archaeology at the State Hermitage Museum, was detained. He is accused of illegal excavations on the territory of Crimea.

Butyagin was placed under arrest for 40 days. The Ukrainian side plans to demand his extradition in a case regarding the destruction of cultural heritage, particularly the site of the 'Ancient City of Myrmekia' in Kerch. Reports indicate that the Ukrainian prosecutor's office already issued a notice of suspicion to the archaeologist in absentia in November 2024. He faces up to ten years in prison for his criminal activities.

Detention in Poland

According to Polish media, Butyagin was in Poland on his way from the Netherlands, where he was giving lectures, heading to one of the Balkan countries. The arrest was a surprise for him - he had stopped at a hotel in Warsaw while traveling from Amsterdam to Belgrade. Employees of the Internal Security Agency detained him there.

Information about the detention has already been relayed to the Russian diplomatic mission. In Russia, Butyagin's scheduled lectures have been canceled, including a talk he was set to give on December 19 in Moscow on 'Ancient Monsters in Myths and Art.'

Kremlin Reaction

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed outrage over the detention. He noted:

'This is legal arbitrariness. Absolutely. We will naturally demand, through diplomatic channels, the right to defend the interests of our citizen.'

Speaking about the situation, Peskov added that there is 'frenzy' in Warsaw regarding Russia, emphasizing that it is not the best place for Russian citizens to travel.

Other Cases of Illegal Excavations

It is worth reminding that in the summer of 2025, another Russian archaeologist, Vladimir Tolstikov, was notified in absentia of suspicions regarding illegal excavations at the architectural and archaeological complex 'Ancient City of Pantikapei' in Kerch, which led to partial destruction of Ukraine's cultural heritage site.

This event highlights the importance of protecting cultural values, especially in the context of close cooperation between Ukraine and international organizations regarding the preservation of cultural heritage. Butyagin's arrest also reflects the complex relations between Ukraine and Russia, which remain tense.