Czech Police Expel Rybar Propagandists After Nine-Hour Interrogation

Czech police have detained and expelled from the country two Russian nationals who worked for the Rybar propaganda project and for sanctioned Russian media outlets. According to police, the detainees faced up to eight years in prison for cooperating with an organisation under EU sanctions.

Vitaly Chashchukhin, a Russian citizen living in Germany, was hired by Rybar — a propaganda outfit whose Telegram channel has more than 1.5 million subscribers. Hidden-camera footage captured him admitting to working for the sanctioned organisation. Shortly afterwards he was detained by Czech foreign police, who, according to sources, ordered him to leave the country within three days as a persona non grata. His cameraman, identified as Igor Dolmatov, met the same fate.

Before being expelled, both men were interrogated — initially claiming they worked for the Russian newspaper Izvestia. That defence didn't hold up, since the outlet is also on the EU sanctions list. Chashchukhin's interrogation lasted around nine hours, after which he was handed a document ordering him to leave Czechia and returned to Germany, where he resides legally.

Who organised the trip to Czechia

The film crew's trip was arranged by Moscow-based documentary filmmaker Boris Dvorkin, previously known only by the name Boris. According to available information, one of his projects is funded by a foundation run directly by the head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service. Dvorkin initially defended Chashchukhin, arguing that he had not violated sanctions since the planned interview never took place and no payment from Rybar was made.

Later, however, he confirmed the details of the detention and expulsion. Ondřej Moravčík, spokesperson for the Police Presidium, said that procedural actions had been carried out with the individual in question, but that the results could not be disclosed.

Why Rybar is considered dangerous

The European Union imposed sanctions on Rybar founder Mikhail Zvinchuk as an associate of Vladimir Putin — according to the sanctions document, he is a member of a working group set up by the Russian president in December 2022 to coordinate Russia's mobilisation efforts in the war against Ukraine. In 2024, the United States offered a reward of up to $10 million for information on Rybar staff.

Chashchukhin has lived in Germany for many years and has held a residence permit there for roughly a decade, all while continuing to work for sanctioned Russian media — Izvestia, Channel Five and RenTV. In his reports, he portrayed Germany as an economically weakening country with empty supermarket shelves, whose only salvation, he claimed, was to abandon military support for Ukraine and restore relations with Russia in exchange for cheap energy.

The case may continue in Germany

According to sources, Czech intelligence services are continuing to investigate the case and have already informed their German counterparts. However, Czechia has very limited ability to track the entry of undesirable persons arriving from other countries within the Schengen area.

Experts and the Czech Financial Analytical Office believe that individuals providing services to sanctioned entities — including filming — may be in breach of EU sanctions rules. André Lenz, a spokesperson for Germany's General Customs Directorate, said he could not comment on specific cases but stressed that any facts pointing to a possible sanctions violation are always examined, with the decision to launch an investigation resting with the relevant prosecutor's office. This leaves open the possibility that the Rybar case could be pursued further in Germany.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš did not respond to written questions about whether the government would address the activities of the sanctioned Rybar project on Czech territory.

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz

Share: Telegram WhatsApp