Russian pro-Kremlin war blogger and founder of ‘Rybar’ Telegram channel detained in Montenegro

(CNN) — Russian pro-Kremlin military blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of the Rybar Telegram channel, has been detained in Montenegro along with several associates, the channel said Friday.

“Mikhail Zvinchuk was indeed detained in Montenegro along with other Russian citizens,” Rybar said in a post.

The Telegram channel, which British and US authorities have accused of spreading Kremlin propaganda and disinformation, has more than 1.5 million subscribers.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Zvinchuk’s detention and said it was seeking further information.

“The Russian Embassy in Montenegro is clarifying the circumstances,” spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told state news agency TASS.

The Montenegrin outlet Vijesti reported, citing sources, that the country’s security services had detained Zvinchuk, his wife and colleague, Valeriya Zvinchuk, and three other individuals Friday morning in the town of Risan.

Zvinchuk has been under British sanctions since last December for his involvement in “destabilising Ukraine” and undermining its “territorial integrity.”

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