Writer Dmitry Bykov Sentenced in Absentia to 7 Years in Colony

The court in Moscow found Bykov guilty of disseminating "fakes" about the Russian army and of failing to fulfill the duties of a "foreign agent."

The Cheryomushkinsky Court of Moscow on Wednesday, October 1, sentenced writer Dmitry Bykov in absentia to seven years in a penal colony. In addition, he was banned from administering websites for four years, reports the publication "Mediazona." Thus, the court fulfilled the demand of the prosecution, which requested a seven-year sentence for Bykov in the case of "fakes" about the Russian army, as well as for evading the duties of a "foreign agent." Additionally, a fine of 300,000 rubles was requested for Bykov, along with a five-year ban on administering websites.

Persecution of Dmitry Bykov

In late April, a criminal case was initiated against Dmitry Bykov under two articles - for "public dissemination of knowingly false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation" and for "evading the performance of duties provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation on foreign agents."

According to the investigation, Bykov "violated the procedure for the activities of a foreign agent" by not providing information to the authorized body, which is required by law. Furthermore, he published a video on one of the video hosting platforms containing "knowingly false information about the actions of the Russian armed forces against the civilian population of Ukraine."

"The reason for the case regarding the so-called 'fakes' was an interview with Dmitry Bykov on the YouTube channel 'Popular Politics' in October 2023. In it, the writer discussed the shelling of the village of Groza in the Kharkiv region, which resulted in nearly 60 casualties," clarifies "Radio Liberty." In early August, Bykov, who resides in the USA, was arrested in absentia for two months at the request of the Investigative Committee (SK) of the Russian Federation, and later was placed on the international wanted list.

Bykov Left the Russian Federation in 2021

Dmitry Bykov left Russia in the fall of 2021. He publicly condemned the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. In 2022-2023, the Nikulinsky Court fined the writer twice - 10,000 and 40,000 rubles - for the absence of the "foreign agent" label in his social media publications. In February of last year, a Moscow court fined him 10,000 rubles under the administrative article for participating in the activities of a "undesirable organization."

In mid-September 2025, Bykov was added to the list of "terrorists and extremists."