MFA: We learn with regret that, despite Polish court ruling, Russian archaeologist not extradited to Ukraine

Ukraine has learned with regret that, despite a previous entirely fair ruling by a Polish court, Russian citizen Alexander Butyagin, who is reasonably suspected of committing a crime on Ukrainian territory — in particular, removing cultural valuables from Crimea — was ultimately not extradited to Ukraine.

This was stated by Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhy in response to journalists' questions.

"It is obvious that the Russian side will cynically use this political and legal episode to justify the occupation of Crimea and the exploitation of Ukraine's temporarily occupied territory by Russian citizens," he said.

According to the spokesperson, Ukraine consistently insists on bringing to real legal accountability all Russian actors working for the occupation and war.

"With regard to this Butyagin case and other similar situations, Ukraine will continue to apply the relevant legal mechanisms and will also work in the jurisdictions of its partners," the MFA said.

As reported, Poland arrested Russian archaeologist Butyagin in December 2025 at Ukraine's request. Ukraine accuses him of conducting unauthorized excavations and looting historical artifacts in Crimea. The Polish prosecutor's office supported Ukraine’s request for his extradition, and on March 18 a Polish court granted the relevant permission.

However, on April 28, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski confirmed that Butyagin had been handed over to Belarus. Asked what exactly Poland had offered in exchange for the release of Polish community activist in Belarus Andrzej Poczobut, he replied that it was a prisoner exchange: "The fact that we had someone to exchange helped a lot." Sikorski noted that Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine and Poland took part in the prisoner exchange.

Overall, the exchange took place under a "five-for-five" formula, with three Polish citizens and two Moldovan citizens released in total.

According to Russian media reports, Russian citizen Nina Popova and former deputy head of Moldova's special services Alexandru Balan were handed over to Russia and Belarus as part of the "five-for-five" exchange.