Freed Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin returned to St. Petersburg and is now planning to go back to Crimea

Freed Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin returned to St. Petersburg and is now planning to go back to Crimea

Alexander Butyagin, who was released as a result of the recent exchange between Poland and Belarus, has returned to St. Petersburg.

In an interview with Vesti, he said that he wants to go back to excavations in annexed Crimea:

I think so [I will return]. The question now is rather whether I will have time to organize the expedition before summer, because reports still need to be submitted there. And I think the work should continue.

He also confirmed to Izvestia that he would soon return to Crimea, and said that he would not be going to Europe anytime soon:

I think that would be imprudent in the near future. Sooner or later, when this story is over, maybe. But right now I need to think very hard and consult with people. From now on I will be very careful about this, because I've had enough impressions.

🔵Butyagin was detained in Poland in November 2025 at Ukraine's request. He was accused of looting Ukrainian national cultural valuables because of excavations in Crimea. In March 2026, a Polish court approved his extradition to Ukraine, but this week Butyagin was released as part of an exchange.

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