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2 clusters · 70 sources · 1 days · First seen · Last updated

Expulsion of Russian Rybar network founder from Montenegro

Overview

Montenegrin authorities, including the Police Directorate and the National Security Agency (ANB), expelled Mikhail Zvinchuk—the founder of the Russian military Telegram network Rybar—and four other Russian nationals from the country. Officials conducted the operation in Risan to neutralize suspected hybrid warfare and activities intended to destabilize Montenegro. During the operation, police seized digital equipment such as drones and high-resolution cameras.

Zvinchuk, identified as a GRU colonel and a former Russian Ministry of Defense official sanctioned by the European Union and the United Kingdom, claimed the group was in the country legally to film a documentary series regarding Russian-Balkan relations, specifically at the Cetinje Monastery. Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić described the action as a success in protecting the nation and its European integration path against foreign influence operations.

Following their expulsion, the group traveled via Air Serbia to Belgrade, where they intended to seek legal counsel through a Belgrade-based law firm regarding procedural violations and the seizure of their equipment. The Russian Embassy in Podgorica and officials such as Maria Zakharova had requested clarification and consular access, noting that no formal reasons were provided for the initial detention. After their stay in Serbia, Zvinchuk, his wife Valerija, and their three associates traveled to Moscow, arriving in the early hours of Sunday.

Entities

Serbia · Mikhail Zvinchuk · Montenegro · Russia · Russian Federation

Claims

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Coverage disagrees

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Timeline

  1. [INTERNATIONAL] 5 sources
    Mikhail Zvinchuk returns to Russia after deportation from Montenegro

    Russian war blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk and his team have returned to Moscow via Belgrade after being deported from Montenegro following their detention in Risan for alleged security threats.

  2. [INTERNATIONAL] 68 sources
    Montenegro expels Russian Rybar network founder Mikhail Zvinchuk

    Montenegro has expelled Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of the Russian Rybar network, and four associates following a security operation in Risan aimed at neutralizing potential hybrid threats.

Sources

072info.com · 24sata.hr · 6yka.com · adevarul.ro · antropol.mk · balk.hu · balkanweb.com · beta.rs · bizniscg.me · bl-portal.com · borba.me · cetinjskilist.com · cginfo.me · cnn.gr · dan.co.me · danas.rs · de.rt.com · deia.eus · etv.me · europa.pravda.sk · eventbrite.co.uk · glas-slavonije.hr · hip.ba · hnonline.sk · hotnews.ro · in4s.net · infokuryr.cz · jutarnji.hr · kurir.rs · lat.sputnikportal.rs · libertas.mk · mojdoboj.info · n-tv.de · n1info.ba · n1info.rs · naslovi.net · nemesishd.gr · newsday.com · newsmonkey.be · noticiasdeNavarra.com · notiziegeopolitiche.net · novi.ba · novilist.hr · novski.me · onalert.gr · oslobodjenje.ba · politika.rs · portalanalitika.me

This summary has been updated 6 times: see revision history