Dmitry Bykov (born 1967 in Moscow) is a Russian writer, poet, literary critic and journalist - author of some 90 books, including novels, poetry collections and prize-winning biographies of Boris Pasternak, Bulat Okudzhava and Maxim Gorky. His biography of Pasternak won both the National Bestseller and Big Book awards in 2006, and he took the National Bestseller prize again in 2011 for the novel 'Ostromov, or the Sorcerer's Apprentice'. He left Russia in 2021-2022 and has since taught at Cornell, Princeton and UCLA; in Russia he was designated a 'foreign agent' in July 2022 and tried in absentia in October 2025.
A Moscow court sentenced Bykov in absentia to seven years in a penal colony on charges of spreading false information about the Russian armed forces and evading duties as a 'foreign agent'.
Russia added Bykov to its list of 'extremists and terrorists' maintained by the financial monitoring agency Rosfinmonitoring.
Russia placed Bykov on an international wanted list, effective 28 July 2025, in connection with his criminal case.
Russia's Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Bykov on charges of spreading false information about the armed forces and evading foreign-agent obligations.
Bykov's sole-trader business registration in Russia was liquidated by the Federal Tax Service after he filed a closure request.
Russian writer and poet Dmitry Bykov performs his poetry programme "Not a Word About Love" live in Düsseldorf at Palais Wittgenstein.
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Russian writer and literary critic Dmitry Bykov delivers a lecture on the Harry Potter phenomenon.
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Russian poet and writer Dmitry Bykov presents his poetry concert in Frankfurt.
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Dmitry Bykov brings his new poetry show "Not a Word About Love" to Nuremberg - three years of verse on war, ageing, and faith.
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Russian poet and writer Dmitry Bykov presents his poetry concert in Stuttgart.
Dmitry Bykov brings his poetry concert "Not a Word About Love" to Munich - an evening of verse and music from one of Russia's best-known writers and journalists.
Russian poet and writer Dmitry Bykov presents his poetry concert in Dortmund.
Dmitry Bykov performs a new poetry programme featuring work from the past three years, exploring war, ageing, and an ever-deepening dialogue with God.
Dmitry Bykov performs his new poetry programme "Not a Word About Love" in Berlin - recent poems on war, ageing, and an ongoing dialogue with God.
Dmitry Bykov, writer and lecturer, gives a talk for children and adults on Joanne Rowling's books as a literary and social phenomenon. Suitable for families with children aged 9 and up.