Montenegro To Expel Head Of Rybar From The Country

Reform.news Editorial Team · 9 October 2026, 19:40

https://reform.news/en/montenegro-to-expel-head-of-rybar-from-the-country/

The head of the Russian military propaganda project Rybar, Mikhail Zvinchuk, who was detained in Montenegro today, will be expelled from the country “on national and internal security grounds.” Zvinchuk’s wife, Valeria Zvinchuk, and three other Russian nationals, Sergey Belous, Pavel Lektorchuk and Kira Doroshenko, will also be expelled, the Montenegrin outlet Vijesti reports.

Montenegro’s police said they had conducted an operation jointly with the National Security Agency aimed at preventing, detecting and neutralising illegal activities on the country’s territory.

The police said that five Russian nationals had been held accountable. Digital equipment and devices were found on those detained, including high-resolution equipment, a drone, a camera, a GoPro camera and several phones.

“Following forensic, operational and intelligence assessments, it was established that these individuals could not continue their stay in Montenegro. In accordance with the Law on Foreigners, decisions were issued ordering their expulsion from Montenegro on grounds of national and internal security,” the police said.

Zvinchuk and four other Russian nationals were detained today at a hotel in the town of Risan.

The British government placed Zvinchuk on its sanctions list, identifying him as a co-owner and CEO of Rybar. According to the British authorities, the network is partially coordinated by the Russian presidential administration, receives funding from the state corporation Rostec and cooperates with representatives of Russian intelligence services.

The US State Department also identifies Zvinchuk as a person involved in foreign influence operations targeting the US electoral process. Under its Rewards for Justice programme, the US authorities are offering up to $10 million for information that helps establish the whereabouts of participants in such operations, including those linked to Rybar, or prevent their activities.