Montenegro police detain creator of pro-war Rybar Telegram channel
Montenegrin police and the National Security Agency arrested Mikhail Zvinchuk, the founder of the Rybar Telegram channel, along with his wife and staff in Risan.
Montenegro’s police and National Security Agency conducted a dawn raid in the coastal town of Risan, detaining Mikhail Zvinchuk, his spouse, and several channel employees. Zvinchuk, previously employed by Russia’s Defense Ministry press service, co-founded the Telegram channel Rybar with Denis Shchukin; the channel now reaches more than 1.5 million followers. Officials claim the sweep is intended to curb “hybrid activity” of a media network that Western authorities associate with Kremlin propaganda.
The Bell has reported that Wagner mercenary group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin helped fund Rybar. Investigations by the Czech outlet Seznam Zprávy revealed Rybar staff operating in Europe and regularly interviewing public figures. In related actions, Czech law enforcement detained Russian nationals Vitaly Chashchukhin and Igor Dolmatov, who are linked to the channel, and ordered them to leave the country.
Why it matters
The arrests highlight growing international efforts to curb Russian propaganda networks operating in Europe.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage frames the raid as a crackdown on a Kremlin-linked propaganda network tied to Russian influence operations, while right-leaning coverage frames it as a response to destabilising hybrid-war influence attempts threatening Montenegro’s European aspirations.
LEFT
The detention is presented as a necessary action against a Kremlin-backed media network spreading propaganda and conducting hybrid influence operations.
RIGHT
The detention is portrayed as a defensive move against Russian influence-spreading that threatens Montenegro’s stability and EU goals.
The left emphasises
- Officials say the sweep targets “hybrid activity” of a media network linked to Kremlin propaganda.
- The U.S. State Department offers up to $10 million for information on Zvinchuk’s alleged election-interference role.
- Investigations reveal Rybar staff operating across Europe and receiving funding from Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin.
The right emphasises
- Montenegro’s agencies detained Zvinchuk and associates on “influence-spreading” charges.
- Prime Minister Milojko Spajić says the operation counters destabilisation attempts and hybrid warfare aimed at Montenegro’s European aspirations.
- Rybar claims it entered legally and was planning to film at a monastery.
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