Russian archaeologist Alexander Potyagin said, after his release from prison in Poland, that he will visit the annexed Crimean peninsula in the summer. He said this in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper.
“In the summer, for sure! Maybe I will go to the conference before that – I have no information yet whether it will be this year or not… Of course, I would like to be there,” Potyagin said in an interview published on April 30.
Potyagin, archaeologist from St. Petersburg. He conducted excavations in the Crimea for many years. He was arrested by Polish intelligence services in December 2025 at the request of Ukraine. Ukrainian prosecutors believe that after 2014 he carried out illegal excavations in Crimea and destroyed a cultural heritage site. Poland released Potyagin on April 28 as part of a prisoner exchange.
Since 1999, Potyagin has led the work of the Myrmeky Archaeological Expedition, which explores the ancient settlement of Myrmeky on the territory of modern Kerch. Potyagin said he continued to work in Crimea after 2014 because he considered it necessary and correct in relation to the memorial. He said: “I am a scientist and I carry out excavations for the benefit of everyone, without engaging in any aggressive actions.”