A judge in Poland has ruled that Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin can be extradited to Ukraine, although his defence says he will appeal. Butyagin is being held in a Warsaw prison for allegedly conducting illegal excavations and plundering artefacts from the ancient city of Myrmekion in Crimea - Ukraine's peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. If Judge Dariusz Łubowski's ruling is upheld, a final decision on extradition will rest with Poland's justice minister.

Butyagin, arrested in Poland at Ukraine's request in December, denies all the allegations. If convicted, he faces up to five years in jail. Russia has demanded his immediate release, claiming the case is politically motivated. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, European courts have frequently rejected extradition requests citing human rights risks. His lawyer argued that Butyagin's well-being would be at risk if extradited.

A senior scholar at the Hermitage, Russia's largest art museum, Butyagin has overseen excavations of Myrmekion since 1999. Initially, his research was authorized by Ukraine, but continued post-annexation without Kyiv's consent, raising legal and ethical concerns.

Butyagin could face significant penalties if found guilty of plundering artefacts, including potential damage exceeding $4.5 million. His case symbolizes the broader international tensions surrounding cultural heritage and the legality of archaeological practices in occupied territories.