The case is being investigated in Montenegro in cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies; the detainees have not yet been charged with espionage
Equipment found in the possession of the Kruhlianskyis during a search at the airport (Photo: Montenegro Police Directorate)
A court in the Montenegrin city of Kotor has remanded Russian and Israeli citizens Alexander and Alexandra Kruglyansky in custody for 30 days; they are suspected of smuggling and money laundering. This was reported by… reports Vijesti, citing the police.
During searches, approximately €1 million in cash and equipment that could be used for surveillance were found in their possession.
Oleksandr, 31, and Oleksandra, 42, were detained on September 23 at Tivat Airport as they were preparing to fly to Tel Aviv. They were carrying 19 pieces of luggage.
During the inspection, customs officers found €26,200 and 1,150 Israeli shekels in cash, medicines, and a large quantity of undeclared electronics. These included a GPS tracker with a microphone, a radio signal detector, surveillance cameras, storage devices, and computer components.
According to the publication, the equipment could have been used for surveillance and for detecting listening devices.
Following the arrests, the police spent over 12 hours searching apartments in Budva and Bar that had been rented by Russian nationals.
According to Vijesti sources, cash in eight currencies totaling approximately €1 million, over €1,000 in counterfeit euros, and various IT equipment—including surveillance and monitoring devices—were discovered there.
The National Security Agency of Montenegro is involved in the investigation, as well as representatives of foreign intelligence agenciesDespite the nature of the seized equipment, the Kruhlianskyis are not currently being charged with espionage; the case concerns smuggling and money laundering.
The judge justified the 30-day detention by citing the risk of flight. The Kruhlianskyis refused to testify.
- In 2022, law enforcement officers in Montenegro conducted searches of more than 30 Russian citizens on suspicion of espionage.
- In 2026, Montenegro introduced visas for citizens of Russia and Belarus.
This is a machine translation of the original article in Ukrainian. It may contain errors.