Putiagin is currently in a prison in the capital, Warsaw, after being arrested last December at Ukraine's request. Kyiv accuses him of conducting illegal excavations at the archaeological site of Myrmekion, located in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

If the ruling by Judge Dariusz Wołowski is upheld, the final decision on his extradition will rest with the Polish Minister of Justice.

Charges and Denials

Putiagin denies all the charges against him, which could carry a prison sentence of up to five years if he is convicted. For its part, Russia has demanded his immediate release, claiming that the case is politically motivated.

According to his lawyer, Adam Domański, extraditing his client to Ukraine could endanger his life and safety.

Putiagin holds a prominent position at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, where he has overseen excavations at the Myrmekion site since 1999, an ancient Greek settlement dating back to the sixth century BC.

These activities were initially licensed by Ukraine but continued without Kyiv's approval after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, and also persisted after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Ukrainian authorities accuse him of looting artifacts, including 30 gold coins, and causing damages estimated at over $4.5 million.

Legal and International Dimensions

The excavation activities carried out by Russia in Crimea are deemed illegal under the Second Protocol of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, to which Ukraine and most European countries are signatories, while Russia has not signed it.

Since the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war, several European courts have refrained from extraditing Russian citizens to Ukraine due to concerns about potential human rights violations.

Divergent Narratives

Putiagin defended himself, asserting that he continued the excavation work to protect the archaeological site from deterioration and looting, noting that halting the work would leave the site vulnerable to natural elements and thieves.

In contrast, Ukrainian researcher Evelina Kravchenko stated that the continued work of Russian archaeologists in occupied Ukrainian territories should be prevented, arguing that these activities have harmed the cultural heritage in Crimea.

Previous Developments

The Ukrainian Security Service announced in November 2024 that it had gathered evidence against a Russian archaeologist accused of looting cultural heritage in Crimea, without disclosing his name, indicating his involvement in illegal excavations and the destruction of archaeological sites.

Putiagin remains detained in a detention center in Warsaw after a request for his release on bail was denied. When asked about the possibility of returning to work in Crimea if he wins the appeal, he simply stated that he wishes to return to his family first and reorganize his life.