Montenegrin authorities announced on Friday that Mikhail Zvinchuk, a Russian pro-Kremlin military blogger and founder of the influential Leiber Telegram channel, was detained in Montenegro along with several associates.
Rybar, which British and American authorities have accused of spreading Kremlin propaganda and disinformation, has more than 1.5 million subscribers.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, pro-Kremlin war bloggers have become important cogs in Russia’s propaganda machine, providing battlefield updates while maintaining a pro-conflict stance. Many military bloggers have deep sources within the National Guard, which gives them unparalleled access to information.
Montenegro’s prime minister said the move by the country’s security services was in response to information that the Liver network may be trying to “destabilize” the Balkan country through a disinformation campaign.
“Montenegro is protecting its own interests and no one will jeopardize the future of Europe,” Prime Minister Milojko Spajic told the TV program “X”.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Zvinchuk’s detention and said it was seeking further information.
Montenegrin media outlet Bijesti reported that Zvincuk, his wife Valerija and three others were detained in the coastal town of Risan on Friday morning.
Zvinchuk has been under British sanctions since December last year for his role in “destabilizing Ukraine” and violating its territorial integrity.
Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency describes Zvinchuk as one of the most prominent supporters of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Zvinchuk’s description on Ukraine’s Defense Information War Sanctions Portal says that through rival channels he is “systematically disseminating disinformation aimed at justifying the invasion, discrediting the Ukrainian military and delegitimizing the Ukrainian government.”
Both the UK and the European Union have sanctioned Zvinchuk. The British government said Mr. Leiber “appeared to be a reliable news source primarily focused on military analysis of the Ukraine war” but secretly acted on behalf of the Russian state and attempted to interfere in a democratic election.
Separately, the United States has accused Zvinchuk of trying to interfere in the 2024 presidential election.
