Czech journalists expose Europe-based staff of Rybar, a pro-war Russian Telegram channel
Journalists at the Czech outlet Seznam Zprávy found that representatives of Rybar — an analytical center and one of the largest pro-war Telegram channels with ties to Russia’s Defense Ministry — work in Europe and regularly interview politicians, journalists, and experts.
Czech journalists at Seznam Zprávy have uncovered that members of Rybar, a pro-war Russian Telegram channel with connections to Russia’s Defense Ministry, are based in Europe and frequently conduct interviews with political figures, journalists, and experts. The investigative team lured Rybar representatives to a meeting under the guise of an interview with Bohumil Kartous, an expert on media literacy and disinformation.
The channel’s staff had previously contacted Kartous, claiming to be preparing a "documentary series on the current sociopolitical and economic situation in Europe." However, Seznam Zprávy's investigation revealed that the producer, Boris Dvorkin, a Russian citizen, had not previously been associated with Rybar. Dvorkin's project was funded by Russia’s History of the Fatherland Foundation, established by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the meeting, two Rybar staff members, Vitaly Chashchukhin and cameraman Igor Dolmatov, arrived in Prague with EU residence permits. Chashchukhin had previously worked with Izvestia, Channel Five, and REN TV, all of which are subject to sanctions. Seznam Zprávy journalists identified Chashchukhin and exposed Rybar’s European operations.
The channel was founded by Mikhail Zvinchuk, a former Russian Defense Ministry press service employee, and his colleague Denis Shchukin, with alleged funding from Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin.
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