Russian propagandist and founder of Rybar channel detained in Montenegro

Mikhail Zvinchuk, head of the Russian propaganda information network Rybar, was detained in Montenegro on the morning of 9 October along with several of his associates.

Source: Montenegrin newspaper Vijesti, citing law enforcement officials in Montenegro, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The operation took place in the town of Risan.

Those detained also included the propagandist's wife and colleague, Valeria Zvinchuk, as well as three other people.

Montenegro's police, in cooperation and coordination with the National Security Agency (ANB), are conducting an operation aimed at suppressing the network's hybrid activities. British and US authorities have linked the network to the dissemination of Kremlin propaganda and foreign information influence operations.

The UK government has identified Zvinchuk as a co-owner and the CEO of Rybar, confirming that the network is partly coordinated by the Russian Presidential Administration, receives funding from the state-owned corporation Rostec and cooperates with Russian secret services. Zvinchuk is subject to UK sanctions, and the US Department of State has listed him as being involved in malicious influence operations targeting the US electoral process.

Background: Under its Rewards for Justice programme, the US Department of State is offering up to US$10 million for information that helps identify or locate foreign actors involved in interference in US elections, including suspected Rybar associates, or helps prevent such activities.

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