Aleksandr Butiagin

Aleksandr Butiagin is a Russian archaeologist and the head of archaeological research at the Mirmekion site, the ruins of an ancient Greek city located on the eastern coast of Crimea. He has been involved in archaeological work in the region since 1999 and was detained by Polish authorities in December for allegedly conducting illegal excavations in Crimea, which Ukraine claims as its territory following Russia's annexation in 2014. His arrest has drawn attention and criticism from both the Kremlin and segments of the Russian liberal opposition.