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Montenegrin authorities detained Rybar founder Mikhail Zvinchuk, his wife and three other staffers in Risan on October 9. Rybar confirmed the detention and says the group was in Montenegro legally; officials have not disclosed whether charges have been filed or explained the operation in detail.
Montenegrin authorities detained Rybar founder Mikhail Zvinchuk, his wife and three other people associated with the Russian Telegram network in the town of Risan on the morning of October 9, according to reporting by the local outlet Vijesti and Meduza. The case has drawn attention because Rybar is a prominent pro-war channel with more than 1.5 million subscribers, while officials have not said whether the detainees have been charged or publicly explained the allegations.
Vijesti reported that those detained had sophisticated digital equipment, drones and electronic devices. Meduza reported that Montenegrin security services had monitored Zvinchuk and his team for several days. Media reports characterized the operation as intended to suppress what they called the Rybar network’s “hybrid activity”; the authorities have not publicly set out what conduct they suspect or what evidence they are examining.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić referred to the operation in a post on X but said the government would not disclose details that belonged within the security services’ remit. He wrote that “state institutions are doing their jobs” and that Montenegro was protecting its interests and “no one will jeopardize our European future.” Law enforcement agencies had not officially commented on the detentions in the account reported by Meduza.
Rybar confirmed the detentions in a Telegram post, saying all five people were in Montenegro legally and officially. The channel said the group had planned to film at Cetinje Monastery and had submitted an official request. It called for the detainees’ swift release, asserting that “there were no violations of local law.” Those statements are Rybar’s account; no public official response to its claims was reported.
A Case With EU Accession Stakes
The detentions put a Russian media operation under scrutiny in a country preparing to join the European Union. Montenegro is aligning some rules with EU requirements as part of its accession process, including changes to visa policy. The timing makes the case relevant to questions about foreign influence, national security and the government’s handling of Russian-linked activity, though the publicly available reporting does not establish that the detentions are connected to a specific EU policy or visa decision.
Rybar’s reach gives the case significance beyond the five people detained. The channel describes itself as a military-analytical center and operates affiliated outlets focused on regions including Europe, Africa and the Balkans. Its reporting and activities have drawn attention from foreign governments: the U.S. State Department announced a $10 million reward for information on Rybar staffers in 2024, saying the network had tried to interfere in the U.S. presidential election. That is the U.S. government’s stated basis for the reward, not a finding established by the Montenegro detention.
For readers, the immediate distinction is between the confirmed detentions and the still-unexplained grounds for them. Montenegro’s security agencies have not publicly described the alleged activity, and the detainees’ legal status remains unknown. Until officials release more information, claims about the purpose of the operation or the group’s conduct should be treated as attributed accounts, not settled facts.
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Rybar’s European Activity
Zvinchuk is a former press officer for Russia’s Defense Ministry and created Rybar with colleague Denis Shchukin. The channel launched in 2018, and businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin helped fund it in its early years. Rybar has more than 1.5 million subscribers and runs affiliated channels including Evropar, Afrikar and Balkanar.
The Montenegro detention follows scrutiny of people linked to the network elsewhere in Europe. In September, Czech authorities detained Vitaly Chashchukhin and Igor Dolmatov, two Russians identified as working for Rybar, before expelling them, according to the source report. Seznam Zprávy had reported that Rybar representatives were active in Europe and sought comments from politicians and experts. During questioning, the two men said they officially worked for Izvestia, which has been under EU sanctions since 2024. The independent outlet iStories later reported that both held German residence permits and had lived for years in Berlin’s Zehlendorf district.
Zvinchuk’s presence in Montenegro was public before the detention: he posted a video from the country on RuTube the day before, Meduza reported. On Instagram, he said he had entered despite EU and UK sanctions, adding that a border guard might check his bags but fail to check a database. His post does not establish the circumstances of his entry or what Montenegrin officials knew about his visit.
Montenegro expects to join the EU on January 1, 2028, although that target could change if the country does not complete required legislative changes in time. From November 1, it is due to introduce visa requirements for citizens of some third countries, including Russia. Zvinchuk had previously discussed how visa rules for Russian tourists could affect Montenegro’s economy. No reported evidence establishes that this commentary prompted the detentions.
““State institutions are doing their jobs, Montenegro is protecting its interests, and no one will jeopardize our European future.””
— Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, in a post on X
Charges and Allegations Undisclosed
It is not clear whether Zvinchuk or the other four detainees have been charged, how long they may be held, or whether they have access to legal representation. Montenegrin law enforcement agencies have not issued an official account of the detention in the reporting available so far.
The reported equipment seizure and the description of the operation as a response to “hybrid activity” come from media reports, while Rybar disputes any suggestion that its group broke local law. The specific activity under investigation, the evidence authorities may have gathered, and the role of each person detained remain unconfirmed or undisclosed. It is also unclear whether the case will lead to formal charges, administrative action or release without charge.
Awaiting an Official Case Update
The next public developments are likely to clarify whether authorities file charges, release the detainees or seek further detention. A statement from police, prosecutors or security services could identify the legal basis for the operation and explain whether any seized equipment is part of an investigation. No timetable for such an announcement was reported.
Until officials provide those details, the detention remains a developing case, with Rybar’s account and media descriptions of the operation not yet matched by a detailed official explanation. The group’s expected filming at Cetinje Monastery and Montenegro’s broader EU accession preparations provide context, but neither has been established as the direct reason for the detentions.
Key Questions
Who was detained in Montenegro?
Meduza reported that Rybar founder Mikhail Zvinchuk, his wife and three other staffers were detained in Risan on the morning of October 9. The reported account does not give the names of the other three people.
Have the detainees been charged?
It has not been publicly confirmed that anyone has been charged. Montenegrin law enforcement agencies had not officially commented on the detention in the reporting available so far.
What does Montenegro say the operation was about?
Media reports described the operation as aimed at suppressing the Rybar network’s alleged “hybrid activity.” Prime Minister Milojko Spajić referred to the operation but declined to provide details, saying those belonged within the security services’ remit.
What is Rybar?
Rybar is a Russian pro-war Telegram channel and network with more than 1.5 million subscribers. Founded in 2018 by Mikhail Zvinchuk and Denis Shchukin, it describes itself as a military-analytical center and operates regional affiliated channels.
Source: rss
