The deputy emphasized that the antimonopoly service should focus on basic needs, such as food, rather than interfere with pricing in cafes. "This concerns socially vulnerable groups of the population, such as students and children. Why are you not regulating food in educational institutions, where measures are truly needed?" Bekeshev questioned.
"Visiting cafes and restaurants is not a necessity that should be controlled. You can take food from home in a lunchbox and have lunch. If it were that important, people wouldn't be sitting in cafes with satisfied faces. Students may be unhappy, but instead of regulating prices, we need to create conditions for student cafeterias. All grievances could have been avoided. I don't think pensioners were demanding to remove the 15% — most of them don't even go there," he said.In the deputy's opinion, intervention in this matter is impractical. "While I understand your intentions, cafes and restaurants should be required to clearly indicate the price of a dish along with the service charge. People should decide for themselves whether to order or leave if the price is unsatisfactory. If someone wants to, let them buy coffee for 1,000 soms. Your attempt to intervene only worsens the situation," Bekeshev added, suggesting that the committee recommend the cabinet of ministers to cancel this resolution.
