(In paragraph 3, corrects to say .. December ..not.. last month) WARSAW, March 18 (Reuters) - A Warsaw court decided on Wednesday that Russian archaeologist Alexander B. should be extradited to
Poland can extradite Russian archaeologist to Ukraine, court says
Extradition Case of Alexander Butiagin
By Anna Koper
Warsaw Court's Decision
WARSAW, March 18 (Reuters) - A Warsaw court decided on Wednesday that Russian archaeologist Alexander Butiagin should be extradited to Ukraine, where he is accused of involvement in unauthorised excavation and plundering historical artefacts in Crimea, his lawyer said.
Poland's Arrest and Russia's Reaction
Poland's decision to arrest the archaeologist at Ukraine's request in December provoked a furious reaction from Russia, with the Kremlin accusing Poland of "legal tyranny." In January, Russia summoned the Polish ambassador to demand his release.
Legal Proceedings and Appeals
"Today the judge decided that the extradition is legally admissible," lawyer Adam Domanski told reporters. He said Butiagin would appeal.
International Responses
Russia's Position
Russia's Foreign Ministry said the decision had no legal basis and that Moscow would work for Butiagin's swift return to Russia.
Background of Alexander Butiagin
Butiagin, who allowed his family name to be published, beyond Poland's usual privacy laws, was an employee of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in December.
Details of the Charges
Crimean Excavations and Alleged Damage
The Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, now located in the Ukrainian city of Kherson following Russia's annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine, has said Butiagin's team conducted unauthorised excavations in the ancient city of Myrmekion in the Kerch area, causing damage of over 200 million hryvnias ($4.55 million).
Seizure of Historical Artefacts
Ukraine also says the team seized 30 gold coins, of which 26 were inscribed with the name of Alexander the Great. Four were minted during the reign of his brother Philip III Arrhidaeus.
Moscow's Counterclaims
Moscow says the charges against Butiagin are "absurd" as in its view Crimea is Russian territory, while it has called Warsaw's decision to detain the archaeologist politically motivated.
Additional Information
($1 = 43.3160 hryvnias)
(Reporting by Anna Koper, Pawel Florkiewicz, Karol Badohal and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Alison Williams, Rod Nickel)
