Ilya, a Gomel volunteer and well-known rock concert organizer, was detained by KGB officers on July 8, 2021. He was arrested as a witness in a case involving an "act of terrorism," but was released on July 16.
Ilya was arrested again on September 30, 2021, in connection with a criminal case opened for online comments following the deaths of KGB officer Dmitry Fedosyuk and IT specialist Andrei Zeltser in Minsk. He was initially charged with "inciting hatred or discord," but during the investigation, the charge was changed to "discrediting the Republic of Belarus."
Ilya visited court hearings for political prisoners, helped with parcels, and wrote letters of support. His "Write Letters" initiative was shortlisted for the 2021 National Human Rights Award in the "Campaign/Initiative of the Year" category. Even behind bars, he continued to support Belarusians with letters of solidarity.
In October 2022, Ilya was found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment in a penal colony and a large fine. He was released in court because his time in custody exceeded his sentence.
After his release, political persecution continued: Ilya was repeatedly subjected to administrative charges and searches. Ultimately, he was forced to leave Belarus.
In November 2023, it became known that a new criminal case had been opened against him, and his Facebook page was recognized as “extremist.”
