Was born in 1946 in a prison camp near Mariinsk, Novosibirsk region (his father, poet Andrej Rybakov was accused as "nation's enemy" for writing "anti-soviet poems"). After school was studying in art technical school, later in Leningrad Art Academy, working at the same time as painter-restorer in the Russian Museum. Has taken part in Leningrad movement of "the second culture". In 1976 was expelled from the Academy and - together with Oleg Volkov, Julia Voznesenskaja and Natalja Lestnichenko - arrested by KGB for producing street graffiti in favour of freedom and democracy. In 1977 has been sentenced by Leningrad court to the 6 years of imprisonment in a prison camp of strong regime.

Being released in 1982, became one of the active members of Leningrad group of the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR), based in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany. In 1988 together with Valerija Novodvorskaja was among the founders of the Democratic Union - the first Soviet organization, which openly proclaimed itself as political party opposing the regime and became a target for persecutions from side of the authorities of Perestroika's Soviet Union. In 1983-89 many times was arrested and sentenced to 15-days imprisonments on false accusations in "hooliganism" and "disobedience to policemen". Since 1990 begun also participate in activities of "Memorial" human rights society. In the same 1990 was elected in Leningrad Soviet, working there as chairman of the commission on human rights. In 1993 was elected in the State Duma on a majoritarian district as a candidate supported by "Russia'a Choice" coalition. Member of Duma's committee on legislation. Member of Political Council of the "Russia'a Democratic Choice" party. Since the first days of war in Chechnya, together with Sergej Kovalev and other Russian parliamentarians survived the siege of Grozny, actively takes part in the activities of democratic Russian parliamentarians in favour of right of life in Chechnya.

At first time joined Radical Party in 1992 in the framework of membership campaign before the XXXVI Congress, then again in 1995 in course of Radicals' initiatives against war in Chechnya and militarism. During the last half year supports actively in the State Duma all the initiatives of Radical Party.