Montenegro Detains Rybar Founder, Deports Team to Serbia

Montenegrin police and the National Security Agency detained Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of the Rybar Telegram channel, his wife Valeriya, and three associates in Risan on the morning of October 9. Authorities said the operation targeted the "hybrid activities" of the channel, which has over 1.5 million subscribers and is linked to Kremlin propaganda.

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić stated the action protected Montenegro's national interests and European future, adding that state institutions were doing their jobs. He declined to detail the charges, saying the matter remained within the competence of security services.

“The message after today's successful operation... is absolutely clear: state institutions are doing their jobs, Montenegro is protecting its interests, and no one will jeopardize our European future.”

Zvinchuk said the team had entered Montenegro legally to film a documentary at Cetinje Monastery and had submitted an official request. He said officers questioned them for eight hours about whether they intended to recruit foreigners for Russia's war in Ukraine before ordering their deportation.

The team arrived in Belgrade on an Air Serbia flight late on October 9. Zvinchuk said all their technical equipment, rented and accredited for upcoming projects, was seized and not returned. He said the Russian embassy is assisting in efforts to recover the gear and that the team plans to file a lawsuit.

British and U.S. governments have designated Zvinchuk as a key figure for alleged malign hybrid activities and election interference, and have offered a reward for his capture, according to Montenegrin media reports.