The Polish Ministry of Justice will conduct a thorough review of the case of archaeologist Butyagin.

The case of the expulsion of Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin, who was detained in Poland at the request of Ukraine, will be subjected to careful consideration, and a decision on it will be made in accordance with the law. On March 20, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic told Izvestia about this.

"The case of the requested person, Alexander Butyagin, will be subjected to a thorough review after the Ministry of Justice receives the case materials... The final decision will be made by the Minister of Justice in accordance with the current legislation," the ministry said.

The final ruling will be issued after the authorized persons also receive a court decision on the admissibility of Butyagin's transfer to the Ukrainian authorities, the Ministry of Justice added.

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The scientist was detained in Poland on December 11, 2025 for allegedly conducting illegal research on the territory of the Republic of Crimea. His father Mikhail Butyagin told Izvestia on March 18 that he had no permanent contact with his son, who is under investigation.

Andrei Ordash, Charge d'affaires of the Russian Federation in Poland, said that the Russian side was providing him with all possible assistance and was also trying to maintain contact with the Polish prosecutor's office.

On March 18, a Polish court ruled on Butyagin's extradition to Ukraine, which provoked a sharp reaction from the head of Rossotrudnichestvo, Yevgeny Primakov. Criticizing the actions of the Polish authorities, he said that the scientist would be sent "to torment and death."

On the same day, representatives of the Russian diplomatic mission pointed out the inconclusive nature of the decision on Butyagin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the Polish court pro-Ukrainian the next day, and Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the Russian side would seek Butyagin's return to his homeland. She stressed that the Polish court's decision is interim, and there is a week to appeal it.

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