Poland agrees to extradite Russian archaeologist involved in excavations in Crimea to Ukraine

A court in Poland has approved the extradition of Russian archaeologist Aleksandr Butyagin to Ukraine, where he is wanted by law enforcement for conducting excavations in Russian-occupied Crimea, although the decision can still be appealed.

As reported by Polish web portal Onet, on 18 March, the Warsaw District Court ruled that Ukraine's request for Butyagin's extradition may be granted.

The archaeologist's lawyer, Adam Domański, said they will file an appeal.

Ukraine accuses Butyagin of conducting illegal excavations and looting historical artefacts in occupied Crimea and has placed him on the wanted list on those grounds.

Butyagin was detained in December 2025 at a hotel in Warsaw during a lecture tour in Europe. Ukraine subsequently filed an extradition request.

Following the detention, Moscow summoned the Polish ambassador in Russia to protest against Butyagin's extradition to Ukraine.