Archaeologist Butyagin who looted site in Crimea plans to continue illegal digs in Russian-occupied Kerch

Alexander Butyagin, an archaeologist suspected of looting historical artefacts in occupied Crimea and who was handed over to Russia in an exchange by Poland instead of being extradited to Ukraine, has said he intends to continue an expedition near temporarily occupied Kerch.

Source: Butyagin in comments to Russian news outlet Vesti

Quote: "I think I will [go back]. The question now is more whether I will manage to organise the expedition by the summer, because I still need to submit reports, and since I was away for five months, it is a long period. I think people may be understanding of my situation. And I believe the work should continue."

Background:

• On 29 April, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said that Poland had handed over Butyagin to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange, even though Ukraine had sought his extradition for his part in carrying out excavations in occupied Crimea.
• The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office has reacted to Poland handing over Butyagin to Russia instead of extraditing him to Ukraine.
• Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it will continue to use all available legal mechanisms to ensure that Butyagin is brought to justice.

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