Polish court clears extradition of Russian archaeologist to Ukraine | Arts and Culture News

Alexander Butagin, an academician at Russia’s Hermitage Museum, is accused of illegal excavations in occupied Crimea.

Poland is poised to extradite a Russian archaeologist to Ukraine accused of illegal excavations in occupied Crimea, as tensions rise over the case that has raised questions about cultural preservation amid Ukraine’s fifth year of war.

Polish state media reported on Wednesday that a court in Warsaw had approved Ukraine’s extradition request for Aleksandr Butagin. His lawyer, Adam Domansky, said he would appeal the verdict.

A renowned academic with Russia’s Hermitage Museum, Butagin worked on archaeological digs at the Myrmekian site, located in Crimea, before and after Russia annexed the peninsula in 2014.

Poland arrested Butagin in December at the request of Ukraine, which accused him of “illegal partial destruction” of an archaeological site, causing 200 million hryvnias ($4.5 million) in damage.

Kyiv claims that Butagin seized 30 gold coins, 26 of which were inscribed with the name of Alexander the Great and four minted during the reign of his brother Philip III Archidius.

Butagin’s arrest sparked a furious reaction from the Kremlin, which accused Poland of “legal tyranny”. In January, Russia summoned the Polish ambassador and demanded his release.

Moscow argues that the charges against Butagin are “absurd” as Crimea is considered Russian territory. It called Warsaw’s decision to arrest the archaeologist politically motivated.

If convicted in Ukraine of the “partial destruction” of the site, Myrmekian could face up to five years in prison, according to the Polish News Agency.