DUSHANBE, February 16, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Dushanbe’s market, Zarnisor, was closed for violation of the country’s laws, including illegal land seizure, injuring consumer rights, violating tax code and not meeting sanitary requirements, deputy Dushanbe prosecutor, Sayfiddin Sirojzoda, remarked at a press conference in Dushanbe on February 13.

According to him, the market will be pulled down in the near future at the expense of its owners and a number of apartment buildings will be constructed in place of it as part of municipal redevelopment plan.

In the meantime, the Zarnisor director Bahodur Talbakov said that the market administration had permanent certificate issued by the Dushanbe land-management committee.  “Beside, we pay taxes regularly,” Talbakov said, noting that the market had been paying some 1 million somoni in taxes per month.  He noted that some 600 people had worked at the market and after the closure of the market they have remained without jobs.

Referring to statistical data, the deputy prosecutor noted that the market had transferred only 500,000 somoni to the city budget overt he past five years, and according to the market documents, only 135 people, including the administration members, worked with the market.  “If statement by Mr. Talbakov about the number of workers is true, it means that that he has concealed his actual incomes and evaded taxes,” Sirojzoda said.

We will recall that the Zarnisor market was closed on September 4, 2008.