Medvedev reacts to arrest in Montenegro of head of Putin's "Rybar" group

Photo: Yekaterina Shtukina / Zuma Press / Profimedia

Deputy President of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev has reacted to the arrest of Mikhail Zvinchuk, the founder of the Russian Telegram channel "Rybar", and several other Russian citizens in Montenegro, saying that "a hunt is on for all Russians".

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Medvedev assessed that neither visas, nor official invitations, nor any other guarantees provide protection for Russian citizens in European countries.

"Anyone can be arrested for speaking the truth about the West, the European Union and the neo-Nazi Bandera regime," Medvedev said, using the term Russian officials use to refer to the Ukrainian authorities.

His statement followed the arrest of Zvinchuk and several other Russian citizens in Montenegro. This was exclusively reported by Vijesti, that cited Montenegro's security sector sources.

Among those arrested are Zvinchuk's wife and associate Valeria Zvinchuk and three other people.

During the arrest, sophisticated digital equipment, drones, electronic devices and phones were found.

Vijesti exclusively reported this morning that the operation was being carried out on suspicion of a hybrid operation by the Rybar network, which the British and American authorities associate with Kremlin propaganda and foreign information influence operations.

According to the same information, Montenegrin security services were informed in advance about the arrival of members of that network, and their stay was monitored for days.

They said that the purpose of their arrival was to record a documentary video material about the announced harmonization of the visa policy of Montenegro with the standards of the European Union.

(Telegraf.rs)