In 2013, Ivan moved to the run-down village of Prodvino in the Bobruisk district with his wife and son. At the time of Ivan's resettlement, only a few dozen residents remained. He became the village elder and did his best to revitalize it. He began holding an annual festival to commemorate the village's founding anniversary . He also worked to improve the village : he landscaped it , rebuilt a cross in honor of those who died during World War II, and cleaned the communal well. The district newspaper called him a "caring person" and a "thrifty manager." Ivan was recognized as one of the best village elders in the district. He hosted the "Village Elder " channel on TikTok .
On March 19, 2026, he was pardoned after another visit to Minsk by US President Donald Trump's special representative, John Cole (among a group of 235 prisoners left in Belarus).
