Rybar founder Mikhail Zvinchuk detained in Montenegro
Place: MontenegroRegion: Other regions of Russiaautomatic summary
Where the versions diverge
All groups rely on Montenegrin media; TASS neutrally calls Zvinchuk a "blogger" and channel administrator, Ukrainian sources call him a propagandist, and The Guardian mentions his alleged ties to the security services.
What Russia reports
automatic summary TASS, citing the Montenegrin newspaper Vijesti and security service sources, writes that drones, sophisticated digital equipment and electronic devices were found on Rybar administrator Mikhail Zvinchuk and his companions when they were detained.
“Montenegrin security forces discovered "drones, sophisticated digital equipment, and electronic devices" in the possession of Mikhail Zvinchuk”
- Montenegrin security services claim blogger Zvinchuk was carrying drones — TASS (tass.com), 9 October, 11:59
What Ukraine reports
automatic summary Ukrainska Pravda, citing Yevropeiska Pravda and Vijesti, calls Zvinchuk the head of the Russian propaganda network Rybar and reports drones and equipment seized from him and his associates.
“виявили сучасне цифрове обладнання, дрони, електронні пристрої та телефони”
- ЗМІ: У затриманого російського пропагандиста в Чорногорії виявили дрони та електронне обладнання — Ukrainska Pravda, 9 October, 12:34
What independent sources report
automatic summary Kyiv Independent, citing Vijesti, reports a decision to expel Zvinchuk, his wife and three other Russians on national security grounds. The Guardian writes about the blogger's reported ties to Russian intelligence and warnings of attempts to destabilise Montenegro.
“Montenegrin authorities decided to expel Mikhail Zvinchuk, the founder of the pro-Kremlin war blog Rybar, and four other Russian citizens for national security reasons”
“after warnings of attempts to destabilise the Balkan country”
- Montenegro to expel founder of Russian war blog Rybar, citing security reasons — Kyiv Independent, 9 October, 12:47
- Pro-Kremlin Russian military blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk arrested in Montenegro — The Guardian, 9 October, 18:10
Confirmation
Confirmation: confirmed by independent sources
The event is reported by international or exile independent outlets and no contradictions in the facts between the groups were detected. This does not mean the independent outlets verified every detail.
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