Poland handed over arrested archaeologist Alexander Butyagin to Russia
He was arrested at Ukraine's request for excavations in Crimea.
The FSB later reported that archaeologist Alexander Butyagin, as well as the wife of a Russian serviceman, were exchanged for two regular officers of the Moldovan special service.
Alexander Butyagin was detained in December 2025 in Poland at the request of Ukrainian authorities.
The case against Butyagin is based on excavations in Crimea after its annexation by Russia. Kyiv equates them to the destruction of monuments. The scientist does not deny that he conducted excavations without the permission of the Ukrainian authorities, but categorically disagrees with the accusation of destroying cultural heritage.
In an interview with the BBC, he said that he continued to work in Crimea after its annexation precisely to preserve the archaeological site: "Stopping the work would affect the condition of the monument, which would then be left unsupervised and would be destroyed due to natural causes, as well as due to the actions of vandals and looters."
Butyagin is the first Russian archaeologist detained because of excavations in Crimea, but far from the only one whom Ukraine suspects of violating the law.
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Comments
Тут іншае пытанне: куды аддалі выкапанае? У Расію? Ну, дык гэта крадзёж чужой уласнасці.
Асабіста супраць Буцягіна нічога не маю, але шкада, што не давялі справу да суда і не стварылі прэцыдэнт. Хто стаяў за тымі раскопкамі? Хто прымаў рашэнні? А Буцягін хай сабе капае свой Рым і не лезе ў дурныя справы.