Ilya Gushin is one of 27 people who are currently on trial because of their involvement in the mass demonstration on 6th of May 2012. On that date, immediately before President Putin's inauguration, about 100,000-120,000 people took part in a peaceful protest in Moscow. The police suddenly blocked the way to Bolotnaya (Swamp) Square where the SANCTIONED march was to terminate thus provoking a clash with the protesters. Then the police announced the demonstration was cancelled and immediately attacked the protesters, beginning to disperse them with the aid of batons and tear gas. As a result, approximately 600 people were arrested on the spot, hundreds were injured. Criminal charges were initiated not against the unlawful police officers but against the lawful protesters for participating in mass disorder and acts of violence. 27 people were selected by the authorities to serve as examples in a theatre of show-case prosecutions.

Ilya Gushin is a student of Moscow University (Psychology and Education), a member of the National Democratic Party and an active opposition member. He also was working in a local football club 'Moscow' for three years as an analyst (ask him). He was arrested on 6th of February 2013, nine months after the event. The accusation was standard: violence against authorities, in his case "grabbing policemen by their clothes".

In his statement Gushin admitted that he passively resisted the police by standing still in a chain of people. He also said that he heard that the meeting was cancelled, did not understand why, then saw the OMON soldiers (a 'special' unit) suddenly start beating innocent people and could not stand it so he "attempted to protect one demonstrator by pulling a policeman back by his clothes". According to the words of the former director of the football club 'Moscow', he was "a completely normal guy with a very strong social standing. It is not his fault that on that day the state power decided to set up a deliberate provocation, and not his fault that he could not pass by when the police were beating a human being."

Despite the request for home arrest Gushin remains in prison (by an irony of fate in the same prison where he was doing a practical placement as a student). The judge stated that he cannot be released because "Ilya Gushin is a member of the National Democratic Party, this party criticizes the state power and that gives food for certain thoughts..."