Editor’s note: The story has been updated with the latest details.
Montenegrin authorities detained Mikhail Zvinchuk, the founder of the pro-Kremlin war blog Rybar, as reported by local media and confirmed by Montenegro’s government on Oct. 9.
Zvinchuk, his wife Valeria Zvinchuk, and three other associates were detained in an operation by Montenegrin police and security service on the morning of Oct. 9 in the town of Risan, the Vijesti newspaper reported, citing its sources.
Rybar is one of Russia‘s most popular pro-war blogs with over 1.5 million followers on the Telegram app, focusing on the coverage of battlefield developments in Ukraine while promoting pro-Russian propaganda about the war.
The channel’s staff has been subject to U.K. and EU sanctions, and the U.S. announced a $10 million reward in 2024 for information on Rybar’s activities.
Zvinchuk was detained as part of a crackdown on Rybar’s hybrid activities, which U.K. and U.S. authorities link to Russian propaganda and influence operations, according to Vijesti.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic confirmed Zvinchuk’s detention, without disclosing further details about the operation.
“Montenegro is protecting its interests, and no one will jeopardize our European future,” Spajic said on X.
Montenegro, a small nation in the Western Balkans, joined NATO in 2017 and is currently leading talks to join the EU.
Russia’s Embassy has requested that Montenegro’s authorities clarify the reasons for the detention of Zvinchuk and other Russian citizens, Russian state news agency TASS reported.
Separately, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russian diplomats will work to protect Zvinchuk’s rights.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s security council and former president known for his inflammatory rhetoric, issued threats against the West over the propagandist’s detention.
“Now we will quite likely have to replenish our exchange pool with European and American morons to get our own people out,” Medvedev said on his Telegram channel.