IN BRIEF: What is known about Russian influencer being detained in Montenegro

MOSCOW, October 9. /TASS/. The Russian Embassy in Montenegro is looking into the circumstances surrounding the detention of Mikhail Zvinchuk, head of the Rybar Telegram channel, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS.

TASS has compiled the key information available so far.

The detention

Montenegrin security services have detained Mikhail Zvinchuk, head of the Rybar Telegram channel, and several of his colleagues, the Montenegrin news outlet Vijesti reported.

According to the outlet, the detentions took place on the morning of October 8 in the town of Risan.

Among those detained were Zvinchuk’s wife and colleague, Valeria Zvinchuk, as well as three other people.

According to Vijesti, the security services had received information about Zvinchuk and his associates’ arrival and had been monitoring their movements for several days.

Montenegrin security forces discovered "drones, sophisticated digital equipment, and electronic devices" in the possession of Zvinchuk and his associates when they were detained, the newspaper Vijesti reported, citing sources within the republic’s security services.

Reaction

The Russian Embassy in Montenegro is looking into the circumstances surrounding Zvinchuk’s detention, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS.

Rybar project’s comment

Zvinchuk was detained in Montenegro together with other Russian nationals, the project confirmed on its Telegram channel.

"All of them were legally and officially present in the country. In particular, they had planned to film Cetinje Monastery, for which an official request had been filed in advance," the project said in a comment.

The project said its team was in contact with the Russian Foreign Ministry, which was working to resolve the situation.

The project stressed that neither its founder, Zvinchuk, nor his team had violated any local laws in Montenegro.

About Zvinchuk

Mikhail Zvinchuk is subject to British sanctions.

The US State Department has placed him on a list of individuals allegedly involved in "influence operations targeting the electoral process" in the United States.