Traders of the Flower Market “Sofia” situated in Botanica district of the municipality of Chisinau accuse the district head’s office of abusively demolishing their kiosks, leaving them without a workplace this way. According to them, the authorities resort to demolition despite the lawsuit they filed against the removal order.
In a news conference at IPN, lawyer Oxana Eșanu, who defends the interests of entrepreneurs selling at “Sofia” Market, said these are close to losing their job and the business in which they had invested for 20-25 years. The entrepreneurs have all the documents in order and pad all the necessary permits until 2022 inclusive. Even so, the Botanica district head’s office issued a prescription for taking away the kiosks.
“This prescription was challenged in an administrative court. The district head’s office and the Chisinau City Hall were informed about this. Nevertheless, on the weekend they made an order to dismantle and take away the kiosks based on this prescription that was challenged, as we mentioned. This order was also challenged by a preliminary lawsuit. Even if the prescription can be disputed (by the involved sides) within 30 days, in the morning these entrepreneurs were visited by representatives of the district head’s office and the police who intended to remove the kiosks,” stated Oxana Eșanu.
“We consider this is abusive behavior by the local public authorities and by this conference we ask these to adopt a different attitude towards these entrepreneurs who pay taxes, contributions and who have this only job in which they invested throughout their lifetime.”
Magdalena Perchik said that she has worked at “Sofia” Market for 25 years. They created their jobs themselves and invested a lot of money in the business. “Most of us are pensioners, invalids. Where shall we go? They could offer other jobs to us, but who would accept us? Shall we go abroad? What money shall we live on? We have paltry pensions and they want now to take our kiosks away,” complained the woman.
The traders called on the Chisinau City Hall and the municipal councilors to take measures for them to be able to continue work so that they have a source of livelihood to survive.
The conference forms part of the series of conferences held as part of IPN News Agency’s project “Support for the justice sector reform by covering high-profile cases of alleged injustice in multimedia format”. The Agency does not bear responsibility for the public statements made in the public sphere by the organizers of news conferences. IPN gives the right of reply to persons who consider they were touched by the news items produced based on statements of the organizers of the given news conference, including by facilitating the organization of another news conference in similar conditions.
