A court in Poland refused to change the measure of restraint for archaeologist Butyagin

The Warsaw Court of Appeal rejected the defense's appeal against the extension of the arrest of archaeologist Alexander Butyagin. This was announced on February 24 by his relatives in the Telegram channel.

"Despite letters of guarantee from European colleagues and other defense arguments, the court kept Alexander in jail. The date of the next extradition hearing has not yet been set, but it is known that it will be held before March 4," the message says.

According to the archaeologist's relatives, he has been in the Warsaw-Bialolenka detention center for almost three months in a triple cell. Communication with his family remains limited: he has not had a single telephone conversation with relatives during the entire time.

According to relatives, written communication is also virtually absent. The letters that the Russian consulate is trying to send to Butyagin are returned by the administration of the pre-trial detention center, citing formal requirements. He can only send short notes through lawyers or representatives of the consulate, but he cannot keep them in his cell.

"The lawyers had to separately seek permission so that Alexander could have photos of his loved ones in the camera. Only after numerous inquiries, letters and calls, the SIZO agreed to transfer 20 photographs," the archaeologist's relatives noted.

In the case of time: lawyers demanded the dismissal of the judge in the case of archaeologist Butyagin

Why did Russian lawyers question the impartiality of the Polish authorities

Butyagin's detention in Poland became known on December 11, 2025. The Ukrainian authorities were looking for him allegedly for illegal archaeological research in Crimea. On January 12, a journalist from Izvestia reported that the Warsaw District Court had decided to extend his arrest after the hearing on Butyagin's case. It is specified that the arrest of the Russian was extended until March 4. The Russian Foreign Ministry pointed out that the accusations from Ukraine are absurd.

On January 15, the Warsaw District Court refused to postpone consideration of the case on the extradition of the Russian archaeologist to the territory of Ukraine. According to the lawyer, Butyagin did not agree with the admission of his extradition to Ukraine because it poses a "threat to life and health." The Russian Embassy in Poland provides any possible assistance to the detainee.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.