The US State Department offered a reward of $10 million in 2024 for information on foreign actors interfering in US elections, specifically naming Zvinchuk. British authorities have linked the Rybar project to funding from the Russian defense industrial organization Rostec and contacts with Russian intelligence services. The operation in Montenegro aims to suppress the distribution of Kremlin propaganda and foreign influence activities carried out by the network.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Montenegro Detains Rybar Founder Sought by US With $10M Reward
Geopolitics12 days ago
Mikhail Zvinchuk and four associates were arrested in the town of Risan on October 9 as part of a security operation targeting foreign influence. Montenegrin police and the National Security Agency detained Zvinchuk, the founder of the pro-Kremlin Telegram network Rybar, along with his wife Valeria and three other team members to investigate alleged hybrid warfare and information operations. Zvinchuk, a former Russian defense ministry press officer, is currently under international sanctions.
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