Montenegro expels founder of Russian propaganda channel “Rybar”

Montenegro has deported the founder of the Russian propaganda channel “Rybar” Mikhail Zvinchuk, who was detained on October 9 in the town of Risan. His wife Valeria Zvinchuk and 3 other Russian citizens left the country with him.

Vijesti reports this.

Montenegrin police said the decision to expel them was made “for reasons of national and internal security.”

Zvinchuk, who is under EU and UK sanctions, arrived in the Balkans from Germany. On October 2, he flew from Memmingen to Sarajevo and spent 5 days in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On October 7, he crossed the border into Montenegro through the Zupci border crossing.

Bosnian media outlet Detektor reported that Zvincuk recorded several videos while in Republika Srpska. In particular, he commented on the results of the October 4 local elections, criticized the opposition, and congratulated the victory of pro-Russian candidates associated with former Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik.

Bellingcat investigative journalist Michael Colborne said that Zvinchuk’s stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina before his detention in Montenegro raises questions about the work of local security services.

“A person of such a high profile as Zvinchuk should not have gone unnoticed or escaped arrest while in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In my opinion, this indicates that certain units of the police and security services […] were probably not interested in carrying out their duties,” Colborne said.

Andriy Kovalenko, the former head of the National Security and Defense Council’s Center for Countering Disinformation, also spoke about Zvinchuk’s detention on October 9. He stated that the Russian propagandist works for the Russian special services and is a key figure in propaganda and cognitive influence activities.

The Telegram channel “Rybar” is considered one of the largest Russian propaganda resources close to the Russian Ministry of Defense. It has over 1 million subscribers. According to open data, until 2019, Zvinchuk worked in the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense. He is under EU sanctions for spreading disinformation and propaganda.

Recall that on the morning of October 9, the head of the Russian propaganda network “Rybar” Mykhailo Zvinchuk and four of his accomplices were detained in Montenegro . Among those detained was the propagandist’s wife, Valeria Zvinchuk.

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