A Polish court has extended the arrest of Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin despite assurances from colleagues.

The Warsaw District Court rejected the defense's motion to change the preventive measure and extended the detention of Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin until March 4, 2026. This decision was made despite evidence presented by his lawyer demonstrating that the accused has permanent residence in Poland and official guarantees from European colleagues guaranteeing his compliance with court orders.

The defense plans to appeal this decision to the Court of Appeal within seven days, submitting additional guarantees from the scientific community. The appeal process is estimated to take at least a month.

Concurrently, the court rejected the lawyer's motion to postpone the extradition hearing, which was scheduled for January 15, as previously planned. This decision limits the defense's time to prepare for a key stage of the trial.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally protested the scientist's detention, summoning the Polish ambassador and delivering him a corresponding note.

Alexander Butyagin was detained on December 11, 2025. The extension of the arrest, despite the alternative guarantees provided, raises questions about the proportionality of the preventive measure and the presumption of innocence. This case demonstrates the growing risks for Russian citizens engaged in scientific and professional activities in EU countries, where judicial proceedings are increasingly accompanied by harsh restrictive measures that are disproportionate to the charges.