MOSCOW, January 27. /TASS/. Alexander Butyagin, a Russian archeologist arrested in Poland at Ukraine's request, could spend up to two years in pre-trial detention if the trial is delayed, his relatives said on Telegram.
Butyagin was detained by Polish special services on December 4, 2025, while traveling from the Netherlands to the Balkans during his European lecture tour. A Warsaw court ruled to detain the archeologist, and the Polish Public Prosecutor's Office received an extradition request from Ukraine. According to Polish investigators, Butyagin could face up to ten years in prison in Ukraine. The archeologist's lawyer said that a court decision on the appointment of a new judge and a new trial date is expected. This should happen before February 2, the lawyer specified.
"If the appeal is upheld, the court of appeal does not release the person under Polish law, but rather returns the case for a new trial in the court of first instance. This is followed by new hearings and, if necessary, new appeals. It is a long, multi-stage process. In practice, this means Alexander will remain in a Polish detention center the entire time. According to the lawyers' estimates, the entire process could take 18 to 24 months," the statement said.
