Arrested archaeologist Alexander Butyagin, whom Ukraine accuses of illegal excavations in Crimea, has been handed over to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange between Poland and Belarus. In a comment to UNN, the Office of the Prosecutor General emphasized that they consistently insist on Butyagin's extradition to hold him accountable.
The Ukrainian side consistently insisted on the extradition of Russian citizen Butyagin to bring him to criminal responsibility in Ukraine
This refers to proceedings regarding illegal archaeological work and the removal of cultural property from the temporarily occupied Crimea.
During the consideration of the request, the competent authorities of the Republic of Poland properly assessed the materials provided by the Ukrainian side and recognized them as sufficient to resolve the issue of extraditing the individual to Ukraine. The subsequent decision regarding Butyagin was made in the context of international agreements related to the exchange of detainees
They also noted that they will continue to use all national and international mechanisms to bring the specified individual to justice for committing crimes against Ukraine and its cultural heritage.
As a reminder
Arrested archaeologist Alexander Butyagin was handed over to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange between Poland and Belarus.
Context
The Warsaw District Court in Poland ruled on Wednesday that the extradition of Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin to Ukraine is legally permissible, stated the Russian's lawyer, Adam Domański.
In early December 2025, the Internal Security Agency of Poland, acting on behalf of the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw in connection with a request from the Ukrainian side for international legal assistance, detained Russian citizen Alexander Butyagin. The Ukrainian prosecutor's office suspects him of the intentional and illegal partial destruction of the archaeological complex "Ancient City of Myrmekion" in Kerch, Crimea. Damages are estimated at over 200 million hryvnias. He is also accused of conducting excavations without a permit.