Kremlin Condemns Arrest of Hermitage Expert in Warsaw as 'Legal Outrage'

A senior archaeologist from the Hermitage Museum was detained in Poland on Ukraine's request over alleged illegal excavations in Crimea, triggering sharp criticism from Moscow and setting up a politically charged extradition dispute.

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Hermitage room 49 - Central Asia in Early Middle Ages - 2

Hermitage Scholar Held for Forty Days Pending Extradition Review

According to reporting by RMF, the detainee is Alexander Butyagin, the head of the sector of Classical Archaeology of the Northern Black Sea region at the Hermitage Museum. The researcher was traveling through Warsaw on his way from the Netherlands to the Balkans when Polish authorities detained him under a Ukrainian request. He has been placed in custody for forty days while the court considers whether to initiate extradition proceedings.

Ukrainian officials claim he participated in "illegal archaeological excavations” in Crimea, an accusation tied to Kyiv's longstanding position that all archaeological work on the peninsula must be authorized by Ukrainian authorities. Under Ukrainian law, the alleged offense carries a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison.

Kyiv Accuses Archaeologist of Damaging Cultural Heritage Sites

The Ukrainian side argues that the excavations conducted under Butyagin's supervision at ancient settlements such as Myrmekion near modern-day Kerch and Kalos Limen in northwestern Crimea amounted to unauthorized interference with protected archaeological sites. They claim the work led to what they describe as "partial destruction of cultural heritage.”

Moscow rejects these allegations outright, insisting that all archaeological research in Crimea has been conducted legally under Russian jurisdiction since the 2014 referendum. Russian cultural institutions have consistently maintained that safeguarding archaeological heritage on the peninsula remains a priority and that Kyiv's accusations are politically motivated.

Kremlin Calls Detention 'Legal Outrage'

Speaking to journalists, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov condemned the arrest as an act of "legal arbitrariness,” stressing that the Russian government would seek to protect its citizen through diplomatic channels.

"We will naturally demand the protection of our citizen's rights through diplomatic means," Peskov said, calling for his immediate release.

He warned Russian nationals about traveling to Poland, arguing that the political climate in Warsaw has become increasingly hostile. The Kremlin has long criticized Poland for taking what it views as an aggressively confrontational stance toward Russia.

Extradition Battle Looms Amid Broader Geopolitical Tensions

Whether Warsaw will extradite Butyagin to Ukraine now rests with the Polish judiciary, which must weigh Kyiv's legal arguments against the political sensitivities surrounding Crimea's status. The case is likely to deepen existing tensions between Moscow and Warsaw and may complicate broader regional diplomatic efforts, given the symbolic and historical weight that archaeological heritage carries in both countries.