An international scandal has erupted in the Czech Republic following revelations about the activities of the pro-Kremlin media project ‘Rybár’ within the country and in other European states. The Czech publication Seznam Zprávy carried out an investigation which revealed that the project’s journalists had been recording interviews with local politicians and experts, without always disclosing the true purpose for which the recordings would be used.
The attention of the Seznam Zprávy journalists was drawn to an offer to give an interview received from disinformation expert Bohumila Kartous. This served as the starting point for organising a meeting in Prague, which was monitored using hidden cameras. Vitaly Chashchukhin and Igor Dolmatov, Russians living in Germany, arrived at the venue. During the conversation, Chashchukhin admitted his connection to the ‘Rybár’ project. As soon as the journalists revealed their identities, both Russians left the meeting place.
Boris Dvorkin from Moscow was responsible for organising the interviews and finding the interviewees. The investigation revealed that one of his projects was funded by the Russian Foundation for the History of the Fatherland, established by decree of Vladimir Putin, and that the foundation’s chairman is Sergei Naryshkin, director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service. Dvorkin, however, denies any connection with the Russian security services.
The Czech Financial Analysis Office warns that providing services to a company controlled by a sanctioned individual may be regarded as an indirect provision of economic resources. Breaching the sanctions carries a fine of up to 50 million crowns and, in some cases, criminal liability.
The film crews for *The Fisherman* managed to record several interviews in the Czech Republic, but the former head of military intelligence, Andor Sandor, withdrew his consent to the use of the footage due to dissatisfaction with the organisers’ conduct and the content of the questions. The Czech Republic was just one of the countries where the project was active; filming was also planned in Slovakia, Serbia, Austria, Hungary, Belgium and France.
The founder of the ‘Rybár’ project, Mykhailo Zvynchuk, is subject to EU sanctions. According to the EU’s justification, he is involved in coordinating Russia’s mobilisation efforts and produces content for a pro-war channel that disseminates pro-Kremlin propaganda and disinformation. The project has a significant number of subscribers in both the Russian-speaking and English-speaking segments.
In July 2026, the UK also imposed sanctions on ‘The Fisherman’ and ten individuals associated with it. The British authorities claim that the project is funded by the Russian state and interferes in European elections by spreading false narratives about Ukraine and other countries.