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.

Seznam Zprávy exposed Rybar staff by drawing them to a meeting under the pretext of an interview with Bohumil Kartous, an expert on media literacy and disinformation. Rybar representatives had contacted Kartous first: a producer who introduced himself as Boris reached out and said Rybar was preparing a “documentary series on the current sociopolitical and economic situation in Europe.”

According to Seznam Zprávy, Rybar representatives planned shoots not only in the Czech Republic but also in Slovakia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, France, and Russia.

The Czech journalists identified the producer of the Kartous interview as Boris Dvorkin, a Russian citizen who had not previously been linked to Rybar. They also found that one of his projects was funded by Russia’s History of the Fatherland Foundation, which Russian President Vladimir Putin set up by decree.

Two Rybar staff members who introduced themselves as Vitaly and Igor came to Prague to meet the journalists. Seznam Zprávy identifies them as Vitaly Chashchukhin and cameraman Igor Dolmatov. Both men have EU residence permits. The journalists also noted that Chashchukhin had worked with Izvestia, Channel Five, and REN TV, all of which are subject to sanctions. When the Seznam Zprávy journalists revealed who they were, the Rybar staff members left.

Rybar’s Telegram channel was founded by Mikhail Zvinchuk, a former employee of the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service, and his colleague Denis Shchukin. According to The Bell, Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin helped fund the channel.