Polish Court Approves Extradition of Russian Archaeologist to Ukraine
A Warsaw court on March 18 ordered the extradition of Russian archaeologist Alexander Butiagin to Ukraine. His lawyer, Adam Domanski, said the judge found the transfer legally admissible.
Poland arrested the archaeologist in December at Ukraine’s request. The detention prompted a sharp reaction from Moscow, which accused Warsaw of “legal tyranny” and summoned Poland’s ambassador in January.
Court ruling and appeal
Domanski said Butiagin will lodge an appeal against the decision. Poland’s judicial ruling allows extradition to proceed while appeals continue.
Allegations over Crimea excavations
Ukrainian prosecutors say Butiagin led unauthorised digs at Myrmekion near Kerch. They estimate damage at more than 200 million hryvnias and allege the team seized 30 gold coins.
- 26 coins inscribed with the name of Alexander the Great
- Four coins minted during the reign of Philip III Arrhidaeus
Officials converted the damage estimate to roughly $4.55 million, using an exchange rate of $1 = 43.3160 hryvnias. The Prosecutor’s Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea now operates from Kherson.
Russian response and diplomatic fallout
Russia’s Foreign Ministry rejected the ruling and called the charges baseless. Moscow said it would seek Butiagin’s rapid return and described Poland’s actions as politicised.
The case has generated headlines, with searches using the phrase Polish Court Approves Extradition of Russian Archaeologist to Ukraine. Filmogaz.com will monitor the legal and diplomatic developments as the appeal proceeds.
