Standoff between police and shopkeepers while abolishing counters near the market No.4

APA correspondent reported that representatives of Nizami District Mayor's Office and police began to destroy the counters at the market on Tuesday morning. Shopkeepers said that they were not informed in advance. They started work as usual but suddenly police destroyed the counters and this caused standoff.

Police said that the counters should be abolished because they were obstacle to the traffic. District authorities's decision outraged the tradesmen. They say their families live on with the money they make here.

Merchants tried to block the road in Gara Garyev Avenue, but police prevented them. Nizami district's Head Ildrim Mehdiyev told APA that there used to be a road behind the market 3-4 years ago. But street tradesmen occupied this area and the road was blocked.

"Residents complain of this problem. As you know, we have been conducting renovation in the region for 2 months. We decided to cleanse the area surrounding the market and open the road. It was instructed the market owners to clear the area surrounding the market on January 17. We were told by the market that all possible measures have been taken. But after investigating the complaints, it became clear that the area was not cleared and so, we decided to clear the area by our own."

Mehdiyev said that the market owners will also be held accountable for providing opportunity for street trade. As for the tradesmen, whose counters have been abolished, the mayor said that there are about 10 markets in the district.

"There are vacant places in these markets. We want to move butchery to the ground floor and give the upper floors to the tradesmen."