The Warsaw Court of Appeal rejected the defense of Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin's appeal to extend his pretrial detention and remanded him in pretrial detention, according to the "Lawyer for Alexander Butyagin" Telegram channel.
The defense petitioned for a change in pretrial detention, presenting sureties from the scholar's European colleagues guaranteeing his faithful compliance with court orders if released. However, the court found these arguments insufficient.
Alexander Butyagin, head of the State Hermitage Museum's Myrmekion Archaeological Expedition, was arrested in Poland on December 4, 2025, during a lecture tour. The arrest was based on in absentia charges filed by Ukrainian authorities, accusing the scholar of illegal archaeological excavations in Crimea. According to Polish prosecutors, Butyagin faces up to 10 years in prison in Ukraine.
According to the archaeologist's relatives, the date of the next hearing on his extradition to Ukraine has not yet been determined, but it is known to be held before March 4, 2026. The Warsaw Court of Appeal previously rejected the defense's appeal against Butyagin's arrest, which the trial court ordered until January 13.
Butyagin's case continues a series of persecutions of Russian scientists in EU countries. Human rights activists note that the chosen preventive measure is excessively harsh, given Butyagin's lack of intention to flee and the purely scientific nature of his work. The situation is further complicated by the fact that no date has yet been set for the extradition hearing, prolonging his detention.
The defense petitioned for a change in pretrial detention, presenting sureties from the scholar's European colleagues guaranteeing his faithful compliance with court orders if released. However, the court found these arguments insufficient.
Alexander Butyagin, head of the State Hermitage Museum's Myrmekion Archaeological Expedition, was arrested in Poland on December 4, 2025, during a lecture tour. The arrest was based on in absentia charges filed by Ukrainian authorities, accusing the scholar of illegal archaeological excavations in Crimea. According to Polish prosecutors, Butyagin faces up to 10 years in prison in Ukraine.
According to the archaeologist's relatives, the date of the next hearing on his extradition to Ukraine has not yet been determined, but it is known to be held before March 4, 2026. The Warsaw Court of Appeal previously rejected the defense's appeal against Butyagin's arrest, which the trial court ordered until January 13.
Butyagin's case continues a series of persecutions of Russian scientists in EU countries. Human rights activists note that the chosen preventive measure is excessively harsh, given Butyagin's lack of intention to flee and the purely scientific nature of his work. The situation is further complicated by the fact that no date has yet been set for the extradition hearing, prolonging his detention.