Headlines
Poland Decides to Extradite Russian Archaeologist to Ukraine
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 18, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 18, 2026
Quick Summary
A Warsaw court has ruled that Russian archaeologist Alexander B. (Alexander Butyagin) be extradited to Ukraine over alleged unauthorised excavations and plundering of cultural artefacts in Crimea, prompting strong Russian protests.
Poland can extradite Russian archaeologist to Ukraine, court says
Extradition Case of Alexander Butiagin
By Anna Koper
Warsaw Court Decision
WARSAW, March 18 (Reuters) - A Warsaw court decided on Wednesday that Russian archaeologist Alexander Butiagin should be extradited to Ukraine, where he is accused of involvement in unauthorised excavation and plundering historical artefacts in Crimea, his lawyer said.
Reactions from Russia
Poland's decision to arrest the archaeologist at Ukraine's request in December provoked a furious reaction from Russia, with the Kremlin accusing Poland of "legal tyranny". In January, Russia summoned the Polish ambassador to demand his release.
Legal Proceedings and Appeal
"Today the judge decided that the extradition is legally admissible," lawyer Adam Domanski told reporters. He said Butiagin would appeal.
The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Background of Alexander Butiagin
Butiagin, who allowed his family name to be published, beyond Poland's usual privacy laws, was an employee of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in December.
Allegations from Ukraine
Crimean Excavations
The Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, now located in the Ukrainian city of Kherson following Russia's annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine, has said Butiagin's team conducted unauthorised excavations in the ancient city of Myrmekion in the Kerch area, causing damage of over 200 million hryvnias ($4.55 million).
Seizure of Historical Artefacts
Gold Coins Discovery
Ukraine also says the team seized 30 gold coins, of which 26 were inscribed with the name of Alexander the Great and four were minted during the reign of his brother Philip III Arrhidaeus.
Moscow's Response to the Charges
Moscow says the charges against Butiagin are "absurd" as in its view Crimea is Russian territory, while it has called Warsaw's decision to detain the archaeologist politically motivated.
Additional Information
($1 = 43.3160 hryvnias)
(Reporting by Anna Koper, Pawel Florkiewicz, Karol Badohal and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Alison Williams)
Key Takeaways
- •The arrest occurred in December 2025, not last month, correcting earlier phrasing
- •Ukraine accuses him of illegal archaeological digs at Myrmekion, causing over UAH 200 million in damage and seizing coins inscribed with Alexander the Great’s name
- •Russia denounces the charges as absurd and politically motivated, with Moscow accusing Poland of legal tyranny
Frequently Asked Questions about Poland decides to extradite Russian archaeologist to Ukraine
1Why was the Russian archaeologist Alexander B. extradited from Poland to Ukraine?
Alexander B. was extradited to Ukraine due to accusations of unauthorized excavation and plundering historical artefacts in Crimea.
2What artefacts are involved in the charges against Alexander B.?
Alexander B. and his team are accused of seizing 30 gold coins, 26 related to Alexander the Great and four from Philip III Arrhidaeus' reign.
3How did Russia respond to Poland’s extradition decision?
Russia condemned the decision, calling the charges absurd and accusing Poland of legal tyranny. They also summoned the Polish ambassador in protest.
4What is the estimated damage caused by the alleged excavations in Crimea?
The Prosecutor's Office of Crimea stated the damages exceeded 200 million hryvnias, approximately $4.55 million.
5Where is the Prosecutor's Office of Crimea currently located?
After Russia's annexation of Crimea, the Prosecutor's Office relocated to Kherson, Ukraine.
