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They're digging under themselves: what will the arrest of a Russian archaeologist mean for Warsaw
Political pressure and threats of persecution will not be grounds for stopping archaeological excavations in Crimea. This was stated to Izvestia by colleagues of Russian scientist Alexander Butyagin, who was detained in Poland. Polish security services arrested the researcher in early December at the request of Ukraine, and if extradited, he could face up to 10 years in prison. Moscow has already promised to respond to the arbitrariness of the Polish authorities. The expert community notes that such steps may become the basis for a mirror reaction from Russia, where Polish citizens still live.
Moscow's reaction to Butyagin's detention
The fate of Alexander Butyagin, a 54-year-old Russian archaeologist and employee of the Hermitage Museum, who was arrested in Poland, remains in the focus of attention. The detainee's colleagues insist that he strictly complied with all international standards for conducting archaeological research, both legal and ethical.
Alexander Butyagin is giving a lecture
Alexander Butyagin is a scientist of crystal honesty, who has been researching, preserving and studying historical and cultural heritage sites for almost his entire life, since the mid-1980s, emphasizes his student, underwater archaeologist and senior researcher at the Underwater Archaeology group at the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Archaeological Research Scientific and Educational Center at Sevastopol State University Viktor Vakhoneev.
"What has just happened in Poland is not just an outrage, but real political repression," he told Izvestia. — Will this affect the work of archaeologists in Crimea? Absolutely not. Everyone who explored Crimea will continue to do so.
Polish special services detained Alexander Butyagin on December 4, but the Polish prosecutor's office notified Russia only five days later. In Europe, he was supposed to give lectures on Pompeii: he started his tour in Prague and was supposed to finish in Belgrade on December 5. The Russian will be held in custody at least until January 13, 2026, while the arrest may be extended.
The scientist was detained at the request of Kiev, and it is possible that he may be extradited to Ukraine. Butyagin is suspected of illegally partially destroying a cultural heritage site and causing damage in excess of UAH 201.6 million (about $5 million). If he is extradited to Ukraine, Butyagin could face up to 10 years in prison, lawyers say.
Russia is closely monitoring the development of the situation. The Kremlin called the incident a legal outrage. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian side would seek the scientist's release. As Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized, Russia hopes that Poland understands the absurdity of the accusations against Butyagin. According to her, such actions will not remain without consequences.
The Hermitage stated that the archaeologist strictly observed the established international standards for conducting archaeological research, both legal and ethical. In particular, he has been receiving permits to conduct excavations in Crimea from both Ukraine and Russia since 2014.
Russian archaeologists will continue to carry out their work despite political pressure, says Dmitry Vasiliev, associate professor of the Department of Russian History at the Astrakhan State University named after V.N. Tatishchev. He called Butyagin's arrest illegal from the point of view of international law.
— Do not give up, we must continue to fulfill our duties. Refusing to do research would be a big crime, since monuments still need to be studied and preserved. This is a matter of Russia's national interests. We must do our duty," the source told Izvestia.
At St. Petersburg State University, where Butyagin holds the position of assistant professor of the Department of Archaeology, the incident was called political arbitrariness.
"The University is ready to provide support for his speedy release and return to Russia," Yuri Penov, Vice Rector for Legal Affairs at St. Petersburg State University, told Izvestia.
Possible consequences for Poland
The fact that Butyagin's detention is a political provocation is evidenced by the lack of clear evidence of the scientist's involvement in the "destruction of cultural heritage monuments." Butyagin is the author of numerous scientific publications, a number of which are devoted to the ancient city of Myrmekia, founded by the Ionian Greeks in the middle of the VI century BC.
Vadim Maiko, Director of the Institute of Archeology of Crimea, Doctor of Historical Sciences, told the media that Alexander Butyagin has been working in Crimea since 1998. Since 1999, he has received a special permit for the right to conduct archaeological research on the peninsula. According to him, all the excavation reports and open sheets are in the archive of the Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kiev.
If Poland does not release the scientist and decides to extradite him to Ukraine, this will have negative consequences primarily for Warsaw, said Nikolai Mezhevich, chief researcher at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
— If he is extradited to Ukraine, it will be very bad and sad. It is clear that this does not create any risks for Ukrainian officials yet. Polish officials and just Polish citizens are another matter," he told Izvestia. — Poland has its own monuments on the territory of the Russian Federation, there are graves, churches, memorials. People who serve there have not only a certain place in the church hierarchy, but also a Polish passport.
Such a precedent once again confirms that Warsaw has for many years occupied one of the most hostile positions towards Russia among all European countries, Yuri Afonin, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, said in a conversation with Izvestia.
— Polish government representatives have repeatedly expressed claims to Russian territory, to the Kaliningrad region, which was abundantly watered with the blood of our soldiers who liberated and took Konigsberg, liberated East Prussia from the Nazis. More than 600,000 Soviet soldiers died in order to liberate Poland during the Great Patriotic War," the deputy recalled.
The politician recommended that Russian scientists refrain from traveling to Poland, and the authorities will try to ensure the safety of their citizens abroad. Afonin believes that normalization of relations between Russia and the United States could have an impact on Warsaw's international position in the future.
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