Dmitry Medvedev comments on Rybar founder's detention in Montenegro

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on October 9 that Russians risk detention in European countries. His comments followed the detention of Rybar project founder Mikhail Zvinchuk in Montenegro.

In his Telegram channel, Medvedev argued that travel to European countries carried risks even for people with good intentions and important objectives. He claimed all Russians potentially faced a 'hunt'. This was the politician's assessment in response to a specific detention.

Medvedev said visas, invitations and other guarantees did not rule out arrest. He linked the alleged risk in particular to criticism of Western countries, the European Union and Ukrainian authorities.

Interfax also reported that Medvedev raised the possibility of adding US and European citizens to an 'exchange fund' for swaps involving Russians. The report describes his statement.

Zvinchuk and other project participants were detained in Risan on the morning of October 9. The Rybar founder later said he was released after eight hours and expelled from Montenegro.