Viasna Human Rights Centre
Belarus · Viasna
01Overview
Quick Facts
CountryBelarus
Age / Sex34 · male
Occupation—
Arrested inMinsk, Minsk region
Held atInvestigation Center No. 8
CategorySocial media
StatusConvicted
Sentence16 years
Belarus · context
1,277documented cases
393 urgent · 116 report torture
Most common grounds
Journalism
101
Legal Profession
11
Medical
2
Culture
1
Case Summary
Dzmitryj Papou is a Russian citizen and social media moderator who was detained during the 2020 protests. He was a key figure in the 'Tikhonovsky case' and was sentenced to 16 years in a strict regime prison. His charges included organizing mass riots and obstructing the work of the Central Election Commission.
Key Facts
01 entries- 01[politzek] Дмитрий - гражданин Российской Федерации. В России он руководил проектами "Мужское государство" и "Сканер" по деанонимизации силовиков. В Беларуси Дмитрий сотрудничал с Сергеем Тихановским - был модератором соцсетей "Страны для жизни". Узнать о Дмитрии чуть больше можно здесь: https://zona.media/article/2021/12/16/dmitry-popov. Со слов сестры Дмитрия, Юлии, брат «из тех людей, кто не будет сидеть, сложа руки, если может чем-то помочь — и я сейчас не о политике». Она вспоминает, что школьником Дмитрий узнал об инициативе «Подари ребенку праздник» и на Новый год в костюме Деда Мороза «ездил в детские дома и детский центр онкологии, радовал детей, а после праздника сидел в своих тяжелых мыслях, думая о судьбе малышей». До отъезда в Беларусь Дмитрий работал в Петербурге барменом
Native-Language SummaryBE • Original
Дзмітрый Папоў — грамадзянін Расіі, мадэратар сацыяльных сетак, які знік падчас пратэстаў 2020 года. Ён быў фігурантам «справы Ціханоўскага» і асуджаны да 16 гадоў зняволення ў турме строгага рэжыму. Яму інкрымінавалі арганізацыю масавых беспарадкаў і перашкоджанне працы ЦВК.
02Charges
Charges
04 count- 01Organization of mass riots
- 02Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order
- 03Obstruction of the exercise of electoral rights
- 04Inciting hostility
Criminal Code Articles
04 articleArt. BY-293Art. BY-342Art. BY-191Art. BY-130
03Analysis
Predicting Vector
Surveillance vector
Surveillance vectorSocial Media Monitoring
04Timeline
Case Timeline
Arrest date
June 4, 2020
Sentence served
6y 1mo / 16 years
05Sources
Data Source
Source vs. PPW analysis
ViasnaCase facts, charges, dates, and status.
PPW analysisRisk, surveillance & sentence estimates — probabilistic, not the source's reporting.
View all data sources →§ Updates
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Cite this case
Political Prisoner Watch. (2026). Case file: Dzmitryj Papou (PPW case cmmkykr4). Retrieved July 6, 2026, from https://politicalprisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmmkykr4p00371vcf5lvelmhf. Original data from Viasna Human Rights Centre (https://prisoners.spring96.org/en/person/dzmitryj-papou).
Formats reflect this case as an online database record. Always verify the original source before citing in legal filings.