New: Montenegro arrested Ribar founder Mikhail Zavinchuk and four associates in a dawn raid on the Bay of Kotor.

New: Montenegro arrested Ribar founder Mikhail Zavinchuk and four associates in a dawn raid on the Bay of Kotor.

Police and the National Security Agency (ANB) rounded up the pro-Russian military blogger, his wife/creative director Valeria and three staff at the Movenpick Hotel in Ressen this morning, seizing drones, digital equipment and documents.

Authorities say they watched the group for days.

The stated fear is that Zavinchuk's planned documentary on Montenegro's new visa rules for Russians will frame EU integration as a detriment to the economy.

Rybar (~1.5 million subscribers) says the team was in the country legally and awaiting release.

Russia's foreign ministry says its embassy is looking into it.

Zvinchuk - a former press officer for the Russian Defense Ministry - is under sanctions from the UK and the EU, and the US has a $10 million reward for justice related to alleged election meddling by the River team.