The demolition of Kyiv’s famous flea market near Shulyavska subway station started on March 16 as local entrepreneurs, many of them citizens of African and Arab countries, complain about losing money and working space.
Most of the employees of the market will later move to a spot near the Akademmistechko subway station soon, says head of the Nigerian community in Ukraine Aniki Johnson who met with head of Kyiv city administration Oleksandr Popov last week.
“It is a good spot. But moving there will take time, since that land has to be issued by the city authorities, with all permissions and documents,” says Johnson.
Entrepreneurs say they will be left jobless until all the papers are cleared, which might take months and longer.
City authorities say they need to clear the Shulyavka area due to the poor condition of Shulyavska bridge which needs reconstruction.
“We realize that the reconstruction is needed and we do not object to moving the market. The problem is how it is being done – without clear communication, without giving people other places to go,” says local entrepreneur Alina Okafor, who owns a small shop selling hip-hop clothes and shoes with her Nigerian husband.
Most of the entrepreneurs have already paid their rent of Hr 3,500 month ahead to the administration of the market and say they will lose more.
“Some moved to Troyeshchyna market, where they rent space, some went to Petrivka market, others have nowhere to go and have families to feed,” says local entrepreneur from Nigeria Cosmas Okonkwo.
City authorities planned to shut down the market since 2010 when city prosecutor ruled that it works illegally without all necessary permissions.
However, authorities seem to lack consistency. When part of the market was shut down in December 2011, weeks later entrepreneurs were allowed to set up their shops again until city authorities find them another area for business.
Kyiv City Administration Chief Oleksandr Popov said the market will be shut down by the end of the week and city authorities will find all employees another spots for work.
Kyiv Post staff writer Svitlana Tuchynska can be reached at [email protected]
