There's quite a stir in Russia and among representatives of the Russian emigration over the arrest in Poland of Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin.
Who, I remind you, not only has officially issued suspicion in Ukraine for committing crimes, but has also been subjected to sanctions twice (!) (current ones are valid until 2035).
Russia's chargé d'affaires in Poland, who visited the arrested man, even stated: Butyagin "was aware that the Ukrainian authorities were taking some unfriendly actions against him." And despite all this, he set off on a European tour with lectures. What can you add to that?
Yesterday, many media outlets for some reason wrote that Butyagin ended up in Poland "by chance," "in transit." Not by chance and not in transit.
On December 4, he had a scheduled lecture in Warsaw, as previously in Prague, Amsterdam, and later in Belgrade. He traveled consciously, being fully confident in his impunity. True, now the lecture organizers have started covering their tracks. Because it turned out somewhat awkward...
So what does this mean?! - people with bright and not-so-bright Russian faces now exclaim. "Will any scientists who worked in Crimea after 2014 be under threat of arrest?" Yes, exactly so. And not only scientists. Everything depends on the context of actions and the harm caused.
If systemic Russian companies have been afraid to work in Crimea for 11 years (because they are well aware of the criminal nature of Russian control over Crimea), then why are characters, especially those funded from the Russian budget, suddenly surprised?
"Can any Russian citizen who visited Crimea after 2014, donated to help the army or for humanitarian purposes, spoke in support of the 'Special Military Operation' or against Ukraine, or just anyone - be arrested in the EU and other unfriendly countries?!" Well, not just anyone, but rabid war enablers should definitely forget about traveling to civilized countries.
Interestingly, what did you expect?
What really impressed me was the Hermitage's statement.
First, the Hermitage pretends not to have known about Butyagin's plans. They say the man went on vacation and didn't show up for work on time. Maybe he went on a drinking binge?
Second, the Hermitage confirms that all of Butyagin's trips to Crimea were formalized with orders and official business trips - this is a confession, another proof that the Hermitage consciously supports the occupation regime.
The lamentations of part of the Russian emigration that "science is apolitical, and Butyagin is a positive character" - this is some kind of extreme hypocrisy.
I'll tell you more. An individual "our boy" who went to kill Ukrainians may well be a decent person, a good father and husband, a caring son. And may even not really want to go to war. This doesn't stop him from being a murderer and a cog in the Russian war machine.
Putin and his camarilla have put people to a choice. Part of Russians consciously chose to support Putin with actions.
A trip to occupied Ukrainian territory as a representative of an official Russian structure is open support for the Kremlin. There's even a term for this - "normalization of occupation."
For this, consequences will come sooner or later.
For them not to come, ACTIVE repentance is necessary BEFORE.
