Piotrovsky called for a review of protection measures for participants in scientific forums

The security system for scientists participating in international events needs to be changed. Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director General of the Hermitage, shared this opinion with Izvestia on June 5 at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Commenting on the situation with the detention of Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin in Poland, he stated the need to develop new protective measures.

"The whole world system, developed in its time by such protection of humanitarianism, <...> it does not work. This system does not "bomb" cultural institutions, does not arrest cultural figures, it does not work. What was it with Butyagin? No international body responded. <...> The system needs to be changed," he explained.

According to Piotrovsky, it should be based on bilateral guarantees that cover every aspect of cooperation. Speaking about the insolvency of the legal system, he recalled the situation with the theft of the "Crimean collection" of cultural property, which were transferred to the Ukrainian side instead of returning to the museums of Crimea.

"It didn't work out because there were legal arrangements, there were existing world agreements — they all didn't work out. Therefore, a proper guarantee system is needed here," concluded Piotrovsky.

"I was shocked, but I didn't lose my presence of mind."

Russian archaeologist and historian Alexander Butyagin — about imprisonment in Poland and plans for freedom

On May 25, Dmitry Medvedev, Chairman of the Presidium of the Presidential Council for Science and Education, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, said that Russia could protect its scientists working abroad, but actions aimed at intimidating them were doomed to failure. According to him, Moscow pays great attention to the safety of Russians staying abroad.

Vadim Maiko, Director of the Institute of Archeology of the Republic of Crimea of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), told Izvestia on April 28 that the release of archaeologist Butyagin was a historic event. According to the expert, this is the first precedent when the Polish authorities listened to Russia's position. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the process "very difficult and responsible" the next day.