Montenegro expels founder of pro-Kremlin war blog Rybar over security concerns

Montenegro arrested and expelled Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of the pro-Kremlin war blog Rybar, along with three other Russians, citing national security concerns. Zvinchuk, a former Russian Defense Ministry official, was detained in the Adriatic resort of Risan on charges of spreading Russian influence. The expulsion follows Montenegro's strained ties with Moscow since joining NATO in 2017 and its sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Montenegro arrested and expelled Mikhail Zvinchuk, the 31-year-old founder of the influential pro-Kremlin war blog Rybar, along with three other Russian nationals, on Friday 9 October 2026, citing national security concerns. Zvinchuk, a former Russian Defense Ministry official, was detained with his wife and others in the Adriatic resort of Risan on charges of spreading "Russian influence," according to local newspaper Pobjeda. Rybar, which has over 1.5 million subscribers and is one of the most popular blogs covering Russia's war in Ukraine, posted a statement saying the group was in Montenegro legally and planned to film at a monastery, expecting their release. The blog is part of a network of sites covering Russian activities and faced British sanctions in July 2026, with London saying the media company was resourced by the Russian state and responsible for spreading false narratives about Ukraine and interfering in European elections. Montenegro's Prime Minister Milojko Spajic announced the arrests, warning of attempts to destabilize the country through hybrid warfare, and stated that Montenegro is protecting its interests and European future. The expulsion follows Montenegro's strained relations with Moscow since joining NATO in 2017 and its enforcement of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine in 2022, which led Moscow to declare Montenegro an enemy state. The Russian embassy in Podgorica demanded clarification on the arrests.