Should a top Russian archaeologist face trial for digging in occupied Crimea?

A Russian archaeologist detained in Poland is at the center of an intense debate over the role of museums and experts and their role in Kremlin war propaganda.

Alexander Butyagin is detained in Warsaw, awaiting the decision of the Polish court on his request to extradite him to Ukraine.

Until now, courts across Europe have been reluctant to extradite Russians to Ukraine, citing the European Convention on Human Rights.

Butyagin’s case caused a difference of opinion.

Russia’s St. A senior fellow at the Hermitage, the largest art museum in St. Petersburg, he had led the museum’s expedition to the Myrmekion region in Crimea since 1999, long before Russia’s 2014 illegal land grab on Ukraine’s southern peninsula.

Supporters argue his work helps preserve Crimea’s ancient heritage, but critics say he is no better than a plunderer of Ukrainian history who is making the most of Russia’s occupation.

The history of Myrmekion dates back to B.C. It dates back to the 6th century, when democracy was emerging in Athens and the Ancient Greeks settled in Crimea.

Butyagin’s expedition uncovered hundreds of ancient coins at the site, some dating back to the reign of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC.

After Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine, his expedition continued and a criminal case was filed against him by the Ukrainian authorities on the grounds that he was working there without permission.

He was placed on the wanted list in November 2024, and in April 2025 a Kiev court ordered his detention in absentia. Butyagin is accused of illegal excavation and “illegal partial destruction” of an archaeological complex.

Under Protocol 2 of the Hague Convention for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict, the occupying authorities shall “prohibit and prevent” all archaeological excavations, with only a few narrow exceptions.

While Poland and Ukraine are parties to the protocol, Russia is not.

Evelina Kravchenko, senior researcher at the Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, says that no matter how ethical, excavations carried out without permission and under conditions of armed conflict mean destruction.

Krachenko, whose committee allowed Russian archaeologists to work in Crimea before its annexation, says Butyagin “violated the Hague Convention and all his problems stem from this.”

Butyagin told Russian media last year that he was “doing the job to which we devoted our lives” and that his main goal was to protect the monuments.

The Hermitage press office insisted that Butyagin’s work complies with all international legal and ethical norms “regardless of geopolitical conditions.”

A senior archaeologist from the museum told the BBC that Butyagin followed the only path available to Russian archaeologists working in Crimea.

“If a Russian archaeologist wants to continue his research, he has no chance of getting permission from Ukraine, but he must get them from the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation,” said the scientist, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the subject.

Many Ukrainian sources also accused Butyagin of “plundering” the objects by taking them to Russia, but these accusations are not part of Ukraine’s case.

Both the archaeologist and the Hermitage insist that all finds remain in Crimea while they are transferred to the Eastern Crimean Museum in Kerch. They argue that objects can only be temporarily transported to Russia for restoration purposes or as exhibition credit.

However, this also violates Ukrainian law, as all discoveries must be transferred to Ukraine’s museum fund. Under the terms of Russia’s unlawful annexation, the Eastern Crimean Museum collection was instead made part of Russia’s museum fund.

Since the beginning of the war, many European courts have rejected Ukrainian requests to extradite Russians, citing potential risks under the European Convention prohibiting politically motivated persecution, violation of the right to a fair trial, and torture and inhumane treatment of detainees.

Even if the Polish court deciding Butyagin’s case finds sufficient grounds to extradite him, it may not proceed, says Gleb Bogush, a researcher at the Institute of International Peace and Security Law at the University of Cologne.

Last June, the Danish Supreme Court ruled against extraditing to Ukraine a Russian citizen suspected of spying for Moscow.

Gleb Bogush says that the Russian state and authorities, rather than Butyagin, are primarily responsible for the Crimean excavations, because it is not up to archaeologists to decide whether the Hermitage expedition will continue.

A senior Hermitage employee told the BBC that “a field archaeologist cannot be a citizen of the world; he has to deal with authorities, obtain permits and seek funding and volunteers.”

Butyagin received support not only from the Kremlin, but also from Russians who oppose Putin and the war.

“The allegations made against him are absurd,” said exiled journalist and historian Arseny Vesnin. He said that Butyagin ensured that the area he excavated was protected and preserved.

Others claim that if Russian archaeologists refuse to work in Crimea, the artifacts will be looted by criminals and sold on the black market.

Samuel Andrew Hardy, a leading British criminologist specializing in the protection of cultural property in conflict zones, says this does not justify their actions.

The official argues that official excavations do not always prevent criminal excavations. Some looters target areas that have already been excavated.

All Butyagin’s supporters did, says Hardy, was argue that ultimately Russia should be allowed to continue doing what it wanted regardless of the war.