Montenegrin authorities reportedly suspect the Telegram channel Rybar of “hybrid activity”
Published 9 Oct, 2026 08:38
Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of the Russian military Telegram channel Rybar, has been detained in Montenegro, local media reported on Friday.
Police and the country’s National Security Agency reportedly carried out the operation in the coastal town of Risan that morning. Zvinchuk’s wife and three associates were also detained, according to the reports.
The operation is being described as targeting alleged “hybrid activity” by the Rybar network, but no specific evidence supporting the accusation has been presented.
The channel, which has around 1.3 million subscribers, had previously also faced US and British accusations of spreading Russian propaganda and conducting information operations abroad.
Moscow’s embassy in Montenegro is currently inquiring into the circumstances of Zvinchuk’s detention, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.
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