Moskalkova stated that she made the request directly to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk.

“It is outrageous that renowned Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin remains detained in Warsaw. I await a response from Turk,” to whom she has appealed to facilitate the restoration of justice for her compatriot, Moskalkova wrote on her Telegram channel.

Author of several scientific publications, Butyagin is secretary of the archaeological commission of the renowned Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg and head of the Ancient Archaeology sector of the Northern Black Sea Region. Ukrainian police issued an arrest warrant for him in 2024.

According to reports, the researcher, wanted by Ukrainian authorities in connection with archaeological excavations in Crimea that allegedly caused the partial destruction of cultural heritage, with damages estimated at over 200 million hryvnias, or about 4.7 million dollars, was arrested in Poland.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the accusations against Butyagin absurd.

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