The Night Wolves in Berlin in 2018. Photo: EPA-EFE/FELIPE TRUEBA.

Night Wolves leader Aleksander ‘The Surgeon’ Zaldostanov said that police detained four members of the Russian pro-Putin motorcycle club’s Montenegro chapter on Monday while they were escorting Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Irinej, who was visiting the country.

“The police asked stupid questions that didn’t bear any relation to their official responsibilities. It seems that in this way they’re trying to exert pressure on us and intimidate others,” Zaldostanov wrote on Facebook.

Pro-Russian news website In4s reported on Tuesday that the police held the leader of the Montenegrin Night Wolves, Vukoman Bulatovic, his deputy Zeljko Vukcevic, club secretary Zeljko Obradovic and member Goran Tijanic for five hours.

The Interior Ministry in Podgorica told BIRN that the Montenegrin police held the Night Wolves members to confirm their identity and find out in what capacity they were in Irinej’s escort.

The police took statements and released them after few hours because there was no reason to arrest them, the ministry added.

The Serbian Patriarch was visiting Montenegro together with Patriarch John of Antioch.

Russia’s largest motorcycle club, the Night Wolves, is well-known for its close ties to President Vladimir Putin.

Led by Zaldostanov, the Night Wolves were established as a club for rock music and motorcycle fans back in the 1980s.

They now have a strong relationship with Russian leader Putin, who calls them “friends” and often appears at their nationalist rallies, riding a Harley Davidson.

The group is funded by the Kremlin and is also involved with the Russian Orthodox Church.

It gained notoriety after participating Russia’s annexation of the Crimea region from Ukraine, patrolling the streets of the Crimean city of Sevastopol. Some club members have also joined pro-Russian militant groups in eastern Ukraine.

The Night Wolves have their own branch in Montenegro, which includes members from several towns across the country, operating under the motto “Pray to God and stick with Russia”.

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