The Creator Of The Z-Channel "Rybary" Was Detained In Montenegro

• 9.10.2026, 11:50

The operation took place in the city of Risan.

On Friday morning in Montenegro, the head of the Russian propaganda network “Rybary” , Mikhail Zvinchuk , was detained along with several of his accomplices.

This was reported by the publication Vijesti by representatives of Montenegro’s law enforcement agencies.

The operation took place in the town of Risan.

Among those detained were the propagandist’s wife and his colleague Valeria Zvintchuk, as well as three other individuals.

According to the same report, the Montenegrin police, in cooperation and coordination with the National Security Agency (ANB), are conducting an operation aimed at curbing the hybrid activities of this network, which British and American authorities link to the dissemination of Kremlin propaganda and foreign information influence operations.

The British government has identified Zvinchuk as a co-owner and CEO of the company “Rybary,” stating that this network is partially coordinated by the Russian Presidential Administration, receives funding from the state-owned corporation “Rostec,” and cooperates with representatives of Russian intelligence services. Zvinchuk is subject to British sanctions, and the U.S. State Department has added him to its list of individuals involved in malicious influence operations targeting the U.S. electoral process.

As part of its “Rewards for Justice” program, the State Department is offering up to $10 million for information that helps identify or locate foreign actors involved in interfering with U.S. elections, including “The Fisherman’s” likely accomplices, or to prevent such activities.