The US government has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information on the Russian media outlet Rybar and its employees. The Department of State's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program stated that Rybar has been involved in bolstering Russia's military capabilities and promoting pro-Russian and anti-Western narratives.
The RFJ program's website identified nine key individuals associated with Rybar, including Mikhail Zvinchuk, who is in charge of the blog. The government has urged individuals with information on Rybar, its activities, or associated persons to come forward.
Rybar, which has over 1.3 million Telegram subscribers, has been accused of spreading disinformation to interfere with US elections. The outlet has allegedly operated propaganda channels like "#HOLDTHELINE" and "#STANDWITHTEXAS" to further Russian political interests in the US.
Despite the accusations, Zvinchuk has denied any involvement in election interference. The outlet is now funded by Rostec, a Russian state defense company that has been sanctioned by the US since June 2022. Previously, Rybar received funding from Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former leader of the mercenary Wagner Group and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The US government's crackdown on alleged Russian election interference has also targeted other entities, such as imposing sanctions on Russian state broadcaster RT in response to alleged "malign influence operations."
Overall, the US government's reward offer for information on Rybar and its employees is part of a broader effort to address Russian interference in US elections and promote transparency in media activities. The allegations against Rybar highlight the ongoing tensions between the US and Russia in the realm of information warfare.