Ban of Outdoor Markets Sparks Protest of Street Traders

Hundreds of street traders staged a protest rally in front of the State Chancellery, the President’s office in Tbilisi on January 31.

The protesters’ action is in response to the Tbilisi City Council decision to ban outdoor markets in the capital city.

Authorities claim that outdoor markets in the central districts of Tbilisi maim the capital city.

The large part of the street traders is internally displaced persons from Abkhazia and they claim that outdoor markets are their only source of income.

This is the second major protest rally against authorities, since the new leadership took over the power. The first street protest took place in western Georgia in mid January, when the IDPs demanded timely distribution of allowances.