Municipality Police blocks 300 businesses

This action angered the merchants of 300 subjects that work in this area, who said that their living depends on that market. They opposed the municipality’s decision to close it due to hygiene problems. They blocked the road, which according to them was the only solution for making the Municipal Police that had blocked the entrance to leave the market.

Dilaver Rexhepi, a lawyer that defends the rights of the merchants, says that this decision taken by the Municipal Police is illegal, because they haven’t submitted any blockage act.

“The Municipal Police comes without any official order, when they should be the supporters of this subject. They have blocked the door first thing in the morning. We are not against their idea to implement the law, but they should bring an order with them”, Rexhepi declared.

Bashkim Koci, responsible of the tax section for the Municipal Police, gives this version for the created situation.

“We have not blocked their activity, but every vehicle that will enter should be loaded according to the regulation. We are implementing an order received by the Agency of Protection of Consumers since August 28th, and the market administrators have received it long ago”, Koci declared,

Merchants say that the real reason that they are doing this, is that the Municipality has decided to create another market in the suburbs of Tirana, which they built some time ago.

To resolve this situation, the Tirana Police Director, Bernard Caushaj, reinforced the police services to avoid incidents between the Municipal Police and merchants. After a long communication of the Municipal Police, Vullnet Topalli found a temporary solution.

“I appeal the merchants to take measures when there are health orders that are taken for the sake of the citizens’ health, rather than coming here and clash with the police. They should interrupt this activity that is illegal and harms the citizens’ health”, Topalli declared.

“Retail vendors will continue selling at Section A, while wholesale traders will continue at section B only if they fulfill the conditions”, Caushaj declared.

After two hours the merchants kept working in the market by removing the vehicles they used to block the road.

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