How Much Did Temur Korshia Pay Ugulava to Lock The Market Gate? (Part I)

How Much Did Temur Korshia Pay Ugulava to Lock The Market Gate?

Part One

The locking of the Zugdidi market gate is an ongoing issue which is likely to continue for quite some time.  The reason for the market closure is a serious confrontation between the government and traders, a conflict that worsens as time goes on.

The events unfolded as follows: In 2005, in accordance with a decree enacted by Zugdidi City Administration regarding the rehabilitation of the central streets of Zugdidi, the gate of the Zugdidi Trade Center (also known as the ‘Supermarket Ltd’) was locked. According to the announcement made by the City Administration, the reason for locking the gate was the rehabilitation taking place around the central streets.

The local authority promised to unlock the gate once the street rehabilitation works had been completed. Since that time however the traders have organized demonstrations many times. Their concerns were as a result of preplanned schemes by the local authority that were likely to be implemented in the not too distant future.

Marina Bulia, a market trader: “We have been informed about the government’s decision not to unlock the gate”. Ardia [Mikheil Ardia – the Head of the Administration of the Zugdidi district] made the financial police increase their raids. The police search for smuggled cigarettes. I do not deny that that from time to time we trade untaxed cigarettes - many of these were confiscated, but some of them were not”.
 
The attempt to occupy the Zugdidi Trade Center began in 2004 - when traders were compelled to stop selling in the streets. They were raided on November 5th. Protesting against this they arranged a demonstration on November 12th in front of the Zugdidi City Administration building. The protestors demanded the resignation of the Head of the Administration, Paata Danelia, and the appointment of Grisha Kobalia to his position.

Afterwards the demonstrators tried to disrupt the Regions Organizational Conference in the Zugdidi theatre building, held by representatives of the National Movement. During this confrontation people expressed their views of Grisha Kobalia – a member of Nationalist Movement and MP. Some believed that the demonstrations were being headed by Kobalia.

The conflict between the public and the Nationalists Movement then started to aggravate. Nazi Aronia, as well as other members of Nationalists Movement, was pursued by traders. This was embarrassing for MP Aronia, who denies any kind of link with the matter referring to the Trade Center and thinks that ‘someone’ is trying to politically discredit her.

Later, traders, who were also members of Nationalists Movement, protested at the fact that the Nationalists did not invite them to the Zugdidi Nationalists Movement Foundation meeting which was also attended by Mikheil Machavariani. This was the reason the traders decided to blockade the building. Aiming to ease the situation, the participants of the conference promised the traders that they would have talks with Governor Gigi Ugulava concerning the matter, but in reality they did not keep their word.

This was first act of deliberate deception against the street traders. A regional organization is now being established in Zugdidi. As for Grisha Kobalia, in an interview with TV Companies, he denies all links with the demonstrators. This made the traders condemn him publicly at their next demonstration. Later, as a sign of protest, the traders tore their party-membership cards to pieces.

On March 6th 2005, the traders observed that extra additional stalls around the market area had been disrupted and that their work places had been raided. It was the first step towards a disagreement with the Market Administration. Gia Kankia - the chief of the Trade Center and Market Administration was blamed for making a secret contract with the authorities and it is also claimed that he let the Special Operation Service of the Financial Police into the marketplace and permitted traders to disrupt stalls.

The head of the Financial Police of that time, Kakha Kakabdze does not deny that stalls were disrupted by the Special Operation Service; moreover, he alleges that the additional stalls were a great impediment for the market management. He thinks that these stalls were below standard. In addition, the place was occupied by traders selling untaxed cigarettes.

Mzia Pipia, a market trader: “We have been selling cigarettes imported from Abkhazia for many years. I have been working in the market for ten years so far, I am the only bread-winner in the family. They confiscated my cigarettes three times and I ran into debt. They thought that these stalls were inappropriate for the market but at the same time conveniently forgot the rent the traders had already paid to them for these stalls. At that time the market administration did not intend to leak any information about the money collected for the extra stalls and this was why they followed the instructions of the Financial Police”.

That evening, the traders reconstructed their ruined stalls, restarted trade and started a twenty-four hour shift. The traders disapproved of the offer of the local authority to change the location of the marketplace and move it to the outskirts of the city.

The constant raids carried out by the financial police were responded to with the locking of the market gate, protest demonstrations in front of the Regions Administration Building and the blocking of Rustaveli Street. Representative of the local authority attending the demonstration allowed traders to sell domestic appliances instead of untaxed cigarettes. But the stalls were disrupted again after a few days. Despite the unreliable weather, they are starting a night shift again but today trading has been stopped in the market place as a sign of protest.

First the traders locked the market gate. For several days the Trade Center was working as normal, despite the special operations implemented daily by the Financial Police. The operations resulted in the confiscation of hundreds of boxes of cigarettes displaying Russian and Abkhazian excise tax. Physical confrontations were witnessed between the traders and the special operations group of the police.

March 20th was the most astonishing day for the traders – the market gate was locked, there was a deep pit dug in front it, and the market area was cordoned off by the Special Operations Group. The confrontation still continues between the Special Operations Group and the traders. During one demonstration they attacked 4 active female demonstrators, among them were Jina Kartozia and her mother – Mediko Kartozia. It should also be mentioned that one of the trader’s husbands was also arrested at 6 o’clock in the morning after being forced from his car in the far off village of Zugdidi. The traders call for the Media to publicize their feelings of vengeance regarding the attacks upon them.

Jina Kartozia, a market trader: “My family had resisted the temptation others followed. My mother and I were ruthlessly beaten by members of the Special Operations Group during a night raid. I was threatened and told to give up and stop demonstrating, as I had been one of the most active demonstrators.

They really implemented their threats: my 12 year-old daughter was then kidnapped by strangers wearing masks. They compelled my daughter and her classmates to make changes in their testimonies and they depicted the kidnapping as a figment of Mariam’s imagination.

Even the Public Defender was doubtful and could not trust us. It is likely that Bacho Akhalaia - the Deputy Public Defender – did not really approve of revealing the ‘heroic deeds’ performed by his brother’s (Data Akhalaia) assistants. My child said that one of the kidnappers was not wearing a mask and she insisted she could identify him. However, my daughter’s statement was ignored.”

Ira Jikia - the Head of Administration of Zugdidi – looked around the ‘alternative’ markets in Zugdidi. Then she met with the victims of the incidents – the traders –and offered to move them to these so called ‘alternative’ markets. But the meeting turned into clash between the two sides, with the traders opposing Ira Jikia.

Opposition parties are also interested in the problem.  The opposition party the ‘New Righters’ held a meeting with the traders in the dark Culture Hall and made many promises of help and assistance.

End of part one

Maia Ghubeladze from Zugdidi