Šćepan was immediately disarmed and soon interrogated.
Dolgorukov demanded that the supposed Tsar reveal his true identity, but Šćepan merely replied that he was "a wanderer and the smallest of the small on Earth".
Dissatisfied, Dolgorukov asked what had compelled Šćepan to pretend to be Peter III of Russia.
To this, Šćepan replied that he had never actually personally claimed to be Peter.
Though this was technically true, it was far from an honest answer.
Dolgorukov threatened that if Šćepan did not reveal his actual origin and name, he would be tortured, which implored Šćepan to say that he came from Ioannina in Greece.
Since he could not speak Greek, it was obvious that this was a lie.
Following further threats of torture, Šćepan said that he was Dalmatian and that his family name was Rajčević.
Though there was no proof that this was true, the Russians were satisfied that Šćepan had admitted to being a fraud and had him placed in chains in a guarded cell in the monastery.
His admittance of not being Peter III was then read to the crowd of Montenegrins outside the monastery.

According to the Russian sources, the Montenegrins were by now finally convinced and would have killed Šćepan unless Dolgorukov's entourage had intervened.
The imprisonment of Šćepan left Dolgorukov, since he was a representative of the respected Russian Empire, as the de facto leader of Montenegro, a role he found himself ill-prepared to deal with.
Without Šćepan's leadership, the Montenegrin clans soon began feuding with each other again and raiding each other's lands, despite the Ottomans making threatening military preparations at the country's borders.
Dologurkij's orders to maintain stability and wait for further Russian forces were not only ignored, but resented.
Dolgorukov also realized that his life was in danger; the Ottomans had placed a prize on his head, which he believed the Montenegrins might find attractive, and there were several Venetian plots to poison him.
At one point, the powder magazine in his headquarters was blown up, something he found out had been orchestrated by the Ottomans in an attempt to kill him.
As winter was approaching and he had received no word of any further Russian forces yet, Dolgorukov eventually decided to simply leave Montenegro and return to Italy.

After he secured a ship, Dolgorukov decided that he had to move closer to the coast and thus told Prince-Bishop Sava that he intended to winter in Burčele Monastery.
Dolgorukov wished to keep his plans secret from the Prince-Bishop since he knew he was in contact with the Venetians.
Sava suggested, since he wanted to keep a close eye on the Russians in order to send reports to Venice, that Dolgorukov could instead winter in Sava's own monastery at Stanjevići.
Since Stanjevići was also close to the coast, Dolgorukov agreed.
It was agreed that the captured Šćepan be transferred in secret to Stanjevići to avoid causing any problems.
On the night of 19 October, he was transferred there and once Dolgorukov and his entourage left Cetinje (and left the cells unguarded), a group of Montenegrins broke in there in an attempt to rescue Šćepan, but found his cell empty.
The Russians had agreed to leave on 24 October but the problem of what to do with Šćepan still remained.
Dolgorukov summoned Šćepan and informed him that the crime of impersonating Peter III was punishable by death.
Despite this, he decided to pardon Šćepan, made him a Russian officer, gave him a Russian officer's uniform and officially designated him as the ruler of Montenegro.
An extraordinary decision, Dolgorukov had perhaps decided to leave Šćepan in command since he did not wish Montenegro to fall into the hands of the incompetent and Venice-aligned Sava and had realized that Šćepan had actually showed competence in governing the country.
In return, Šćepan guided the Russians through the rocky and clifft shore down to the sea in the night.
Dolgorukov later recalled in his memoirs that "I would truly have fallen into the abyss had not Šćepan Mali, who was accustomed to such places, virtually carried me
Šćepan was immediately disarmed and soon interrogated. Dolgorukov demanded that the supposed Tsar reveal his true identity, but Šćepan merely replied that he was "a wanderer and the smallest of the small on Earth". Dissatisfied, Dolgorukov asked what had compelled Šćepan to pretend to be Peter III of Russia. To this, Šćepan replied that he had never actually personally claimed to be Peter. Though this was technically true, it was far from an honest answer. Dolgorukov threatened that if Šćepan did not reveal his actual origin and name, he would be tortured, which implored Šćepan to say that he came from Ioannina in Greece. Since he could not speak Greek, it was obvious that this was a lie. Following further threats of torture, Šćepan said that he was Dalmatian and that his family name was Rajčević. Though there was no proof that this was true, the Russians were satisfied that Šćepan had admitted to being a fraud and had him placed in chains in a guarded cell in the monastery. His admittance of not being Peter III was then read to the crowd of Montenegrins outside the monastery.
According to the Russian sources, the Montenegrins were by now finally convinced and would have killed Šćepan unless Dolgorukov's entourage had intervened. The imprisonment of Šćepan left Dolgorukov, since he was a representative of the respected Russian Empire, as the de facto leader of Montenegro, a role he found himself ill-prepared to deal with. Without Šćepan's leadership, the Montenegrin clans soon began feuding with each other again and raiding each other's lands, despite the Ottomans making threatening military preparations at the country's borders. Dologurkij's orders to maintain stability and wait for further Russian forces were not only ignored, but resented. Dolgorukov also realized that his life was in danger; the Ottomans had placed a prize on his head, which he believed the Montenegrins might find attractive, and there were several Venetian plots to poison him. At one point, the powder magazine in his headquarters was blown up, something he found out had been orchestrated by the Ottomans in an attempt to kill him. As winter was approaching and he had received no word of any further Russian forces yet, Dolgorukov eventually decided to simply leave Montenegro and return to Italy.
After he secured a ship, Dolgorukov decided that he had to move closer to the coast and thus told Prince-Bishop Sava that he intended to winter in Burčele Monastery. Dolgorukov wished to keep his plans secret from the Prince-Bishop since he knew he was in contact with the Venetians. Sava suggested, since he wanted to keep a close eye on the Russians in order to send reports to Venice, that Dolgorukov could instead winter in Sava's own monastery at Stanjevići. Since Stanjevići was also close to the coast, Dolgorukov agreed. It was agreed that the captured Šćepan be transferred in secret to Stanjevići to avoid causing any problems. On the night of 19 October, he was transferred there and once Dolgorukov and his entourage left Cetinje (and left the cells unguarded), a group of Montenegrins broke in there in an attempt to rescue Šćepan, but found his cell empty. The Russians had agreed to leave on 24 October but the problem of what to do with Šćepan still remained. Dolgorukov summoned Šćepan and informed him that the crime of impersonating Peter III was punishable by death. Despite this, he decided to pardon Šćepan, made him a Russian officer, gave him a Russian officer's uniform and officially designated him as the ruler of Montenegro. An extraordinary decision, Dolgorukov had perhaps decided to leave Šćepan in command since he did not wish Montenegro to fall into the hands of the incompetent and Venice-aligned Sava and had realized that Šćepan had actually showed competence in governing the country. In return, Šćepan guided the Russians through the rocky and clifft shore down to the sea in the night. Dolgorukov later recalled in his memoirs that "I would truly have fallen into the abyss had not Šćepan Mali, who was accustomed to such places, virtually carried me
Šćepan Mali