RisanPolice detained a sanctioned pro-Kremlin blogger at a luxury hotel.
Former president Dmitry Medvedev suggested Russia detain Europeans and Americans to trade for him.
Britain sanctioned him in December 2025, saying Rostec funds him and he works with Russian intelligence officers.
Rybar says it broke no Montenegrin law and expects all five detainees released.
Montenegro’s Special State Prosecutor’s Office has not said what charges the five face.
How each outlet framed it
drawn from 200+ reports worldwide · These outlets told this story very differently.
- The Guardian leans critical
- emphasizes Rybar's reach into the Western Balkans, including media training schools in Serbia and Bosnia, as the context for the arrest
- RT
- stresses that no specific evidence has been presented for the 'hybrid activity' accusation, and notes Moscow is inquiring into the detention
- Українська правда leans critical
- details UK and US sanctions and Rewards for Justice listings against Zvinchuk, tying Rybar to Rostec funding and Russian presidential administration coordination
- Meduza leans critical
- traces Rybar's Prigozhin-era funding through The Bell and Czech expulsions of linked Russians after Seznam Zprávy's investigation
- Cafe del Montenegro leans critical
- identifies Zvinchuk as a GRU colonel specialising in hybrid warfare and cites a network of 250+ channels in 28 languages
Sources: Cafe del Montenegro, The Guardian, RT, Українська правда, Meduza