Czech journalists expose Rybar, a pro-war Russian Telegram channel, operating across Europe

Czech outlet Seznam Zprávy caught employees of the pro-war Telegram channel Rybar working in Europe, where they had been arranging interviews with politicians, journalists, and experts under the pretense of making a documentary about European politics.

The journalists exposed the operation by posing as a disinformation expert whom a Rybar producer calling himself "Boris" had contacted for an interview. Rybar had planned filming across at least nine countries, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, France, and Russia.

Seznam Zprávy identified the producer as Boris Dvorkin, a Russian with no prior known Rybar affiliation. One of his projects was funded by the Russian Fatherland History Foundation, established by decree of Vladimir Putin. Two Rybar employees who arrived at a Prague meeting — Vitaly Chashchukhin and cameraman Igor Dolmatov — hold EU residence documents. Chashchukhin previously worked with sanctioned Russian outlets Izvestia, Pervy Kanal, and REN TV. When Seznam Zprávy journalists revealed who they were, the Rybar employees left.

Rybar was created by former Russian Defense Ministry press officer Mikhail Zvinchuk. The Bell reported that Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin helped finance it.