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Russia's FSB says archaeologist Butyagin released by Poland in prisoner swap, TASS reports

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on April 28, 2026

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· Last updated: April 28, 2026

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Russia's FSB says archaeologist Butyagin released by Poland in prisoner swap, TASS reports
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Russia's FSB: Archaeologist Butyagin Freed by Poland in Prisoner Exchange

Details of the Prisoner Exchange and Background

Release of Alexander Butyagin

MOSCOW, April 28 (Reuters) - Russia's ​Federal Security Service said on Tuesday that Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin had been released by Poland as part of a prisoner swap, state news agency TASS reported.

Arrest and Extradition Attempt

Butyagin was arrested in Poland in December last year and had been due to be extradited to Ukraine, which accused him of conducting unauthorised excavations and plundering historical artefacts in Crimea. Russia had expressed outrage over his arrest and demanded his release.

Other Individuals Involved in the Exchange

Russian Woman Released

The FSB said a Russian woman was also released. It said she was the wife of a Russian soldier serving with Moscow's forces in Transdniestria, a breakaway region of Moldova.

Moldovan Spies Exchanged

It said the two Russians were exchanged for two Moldovan spies who arrived in Russia last year and were detained by Russian security agencies.

Reporting and Editing Credits

(Reporting by Reuters, Writing by Anna Peverieri; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

Key Takeaways

  • Alexander Butyagin—a Russian archaeologist arrested in Poland in December 2025 on Ukraine’s extradition request for unauthorized excavations in Crimea—was released on April 28, 2026, via a prisoner swap (en.wikipedia.org).
  • Ukraine had accused him of illegal excavations at the Myrmekion site in Crimea, causing damage estimated at over 200 million hryvnias; a Polish court approved his extradition in March 2026, pending appeal (rferl.org).
  • The swap also included a Russian woman—the wife of a soldier serving in Transnistria—exchanged for two Moldovan spies detained by Russia, underscoring the geopolitical dimension of such prisoner exchanges (en.wikipedia.org)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was released in the Russia-Poland prisoner swap?
Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin and a Russian woman, the wife of a Russian soldier, were released by Poland.
Why was Alexander Butyagin arrested in Poland?
He was arrested due to accusations from Ukraine of conducting unauthorized excavations and plundering historical artefacts in Crimea.
Who did Russia exchange for Butyagin and the Russian woman?
Russia released two Moldovan spies who had been detained by Russian security agencies.
What is the significance of the region Transdniestria in this swap?
The Russian woman released was the wife of a Russian soldier serving in Transdniestria, a breakaway region of Moldova.
Which agency reported the prisoner swap?
The prisoner swap was reported by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and state news agency TASS.

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