Street traders continue protesting in Tbilisi

On August 14, another protest action with participation of several dozens of street traders unhappy with the decision of Tbilisi Mayoralty to place them into organized marketplaces was held in the Gldani-Nadzalad District.

"I'm categorically against going to trade in the marketplace, where I have to pay rental fee for a trading place. My trade doesn't bring any stable revenues; sometimes I earn only three laris (about 1.6 US dollars) per day," said Tamar Nozadze, a street trader.

At the same time in central Tbilisi, in the territory adjacent to the central marketplace, another protest action took place, held by local residents, who were dissatisfied with non-organized street trade.

"Our streets are full of anti-sanitary; traders' places are not cleaned; and noise reigns there round-the-clock. At three-four o'clock in the morning you hear obscene words from there. Late at night, you're scared to get into the entrance of your house, as someone is surely sleeping there," one of the protesters said.

By experts' estimates, there are now 4000 street traders in Tbilisi, while city markets have 6000 vacant places. The ban of street trading came into force on August 10: it is one of the points of the 120-day programme of Georgi Ugulava, the new Tbilisi Mayor.