Ilya was arrested in the spring of 2021 in connection with a criminal case opened under the articles "violence or threat against an official performing official duties or another person performing a public duty" and "inciting hostility or discord." In October of that year, he was convicted for comments he left on social media.
On September 11, 2025, it was announced that 52 prisoners of the Belarusian regime had been forcibly transferred to Lithuania, including citizens of European countries. Ilya was among those released.
