Rybar founder Mikhail Zvinchuk expelled from Montenegro for security reasons
by@Reuters
Summary
Russian war blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of the influential blog Rybar, was arrested and subsequently expelled from Montenegro alongside three other Russians for national security reasons. The Montenegrin police and state security agency determined that their presence posed risks to the country's safety, with Prime Minister Milojko Spajic emphasizing the government's commitment to thwarting destabilization attempts amid ongoing hybrid warfare concerns. The arrests echo Montenegro's historical fraught relations with Moscow, particularly after the country joined NATO in 2017 and imposed sanctions against Russia in 2022 over the war in Ukraine.
Analysis
Rybar: Rybar is an influential Russian war blog and media network covering Russia's activities in Ukraine and related topics. Its founder Mikhail Zvinchuk and associates were arrested in Montenegro and expelled for national security reasons tied to spreading Russian influence. The blog stated the group was in the country legally to film at a monastery. Scott Bessent: Scott Bessent serves as US Treasury Secretary. He is skipping the upcoming annual IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok due to domestic engagements, according to a US official. Mikhail Zvinchuk: Mikhail Zvinchuk is the founder of the Rybar war blog and a former Russian Defence Ministry official. He was detained with his wife and others in the Montenegrin resort of Risan on charges related to Russian influence operations. Rybar reported no local law violations occurred during their stay. Diplomatic Tensions: The Russian embassy in Podgorica demanded clarification on the arrests while Moscow has denied related accusations of misinformation campaigns. Hybrid Warfare Concerns: Montenegro's Prime Minister highlighted successful operations against destabilization attempts and hybrid warfare, affirming the country's commitment to its European future. Montenegro Security Measures: Montenegrin police and the state security agency expelled four Russian nationals, including Zvinchuk, after determining their presence posed risks to national and internal security.
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macropolitics