Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of the Russian Rybar Telegram channel, has been arrested in Montenegro along with his wife, Valeria, and three other people. They are already being questioned.
The arrest took place early this morning at the Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Teuta Kotor Bay, located in the Bay of Kotor. Drones and other digital equipment were found in the room used by the film crew.
According to hotel staff, Zvinchuk allegedly failed to pay the €1,000 accommodation bill. This detail has also been mentioned in accounts of the incident.
Russia's Foreign Ministry has already responded to the arrest. Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow was working to establish the circumstances of what happened.
Rybar is one of Russia's largest Telegram channels, with more than 1.5 million followers. It primarily covers military affairs. Zvinchuk is also subject to British sanctions.
Zvinchuk's arrest is attracting attention in part because he runs a military-focused channel with a large audience and is himself subject to British sanctions. These circumstances give the incident significance beyond an ordinary hotel dispute, but they do not, in themselves, explain the reasons for the arrest.
It remains unclear what charges, if any, may be brought against those detained, why they had drones and digital equipment, and whether the reported unpaid accommodation bill is connected to the law enforcement operation. The answers to these questions are important for understanding what actually happened. Moscow's response indicates that Russia is seeking to clarify the circumstances, but an official explanation from Montenegrin law enforcement agencies is needed before any final assessment can be made.
