Mikalay Subach –  an entrepreneur, one of the defendants in the Case of 14.

Chronicle of repression

Thousands of people, including civil society activists and businessmen, took to the streets in Minsk on 10 January 2008 to participate in a demonstration against the introduction of a presidential decree concerning restrictive tax and employment regulations for small businesses. The demonstration was organized by entrepreneurs who had applied to the authorities for permission to hold the demonstration. They did not receive a reply to their request and decided to go ahead with the protest. Fourteen individuals were subsequently convicted for organization and active participation in group actions, seriously violating public order, among them Mikalay Subach who was detained during the demonstration.

On 21 January 2008 he was sentenced to fine of 1 400 000 BYR.  But soon after he was additionally charged under the art. 342, part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (organization and active participation in group actions, seriously violating public order).

On 22 April judge Valeri Jesman found Mikalay guilty of the alleged offense and sentenced to 2 years of freedom restriction.