Today, February 25, at a press conference organized at AKIpress-Osh, several wholesale sellers operating in the sector where kalpaks are sold expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation.
According to the traders, the price for spaces in the new building ranges from 200,000 to 700,000 soms for one spot.
The lawyer of one of the trading associations, Asylbek Kungurov, voiced the essence of the problem: "We decided to hold a press conference to draw attention to the situation at the 'Turatal' market. The people working next to me are engaged in the sale of kalpaks. After the market was transferred to state management, the State Property Fund established rental rates starting from 880 soms per month for a spot."
However, the market director claims that he is independently financing the new trading rows and demands from entrepreneurs amounts significantly exceeding the official rates.
Initially, all 18 traders working at "Kalpak" expressed dissatisfaction, but 13 of them eventually agreed to pay the required amount. However, the administration did not conclude any contracts with them, and now these people are working without official confirmation. Four of those who spoke at the press conference stated: "We cannot pay such amounts. If you provide us with a contract, we will be ready to pay the rates established by the state." The director refused and added: "If you don’t pay, you won’t be able to work here." After that, the four traders were not allowed to their spots, and they have been unable to conduct their activities for a month.
The traders have appealed to various government bodies, including the State Property Fund and the Cabinet of Ministers, but have not yet received a response.
During the discussion of the problem with Nurbek Ergeshov, the head of the Kara-Suu District Police Department was also present. The market director claimed that only four traders expressed dissatisfaction and that the others were satisfied with the conditions. However, when the police officer offered to help resolve the conflict, Ergeshov set a condition: "Let these four appear on television and say that they were lying before, then I will give them trading spots on the previous terms."
Apparently, it is difficult to influence Nurbek Ergeshov in the Osh region: either he has support at the ministry level, or he perceives the market as his property and treats the traders accordingly, noted one of the participants in the press conference.
Trader Ainas Kydyrshaeva, who has been working at the market for 25 years, expressed hope for support from the authorities: "Dear Sadyr Nurkojoevich, we hope that you will hear our voice and help resolve the problem. We have always paid taxes, but since last year, we have been asked for money for 'obtaining a contract' — initially 90,000 soms. We said we could not pay such an amount and offered 20,000, but then, possibly due to an inspection, the money was returned, and the contract was never provided."
She also reported that after addressing the director, she was told that for 130,000 to 260,000 soms, she could obtain a contract. At the same time, she was offered to write a receipt stating that she agreed to become a sponsor of the under-construction business center.
Other traders also confirmed the existence of illegal actions by the market management.
Comment from the market director
Nurbek Ergeshov, the director of the "Turatal" market, denied the accusations and explained: "These spots belong to the state. About 40 traders wrote applications and voluntarily occupied trading spaces. They themselves said that if they were to buy the spots, it would cost a lot. I explained that creating one trading spot costs about 200,000 soms."
He also noted that only four out of 40 traders expressed dissatisfaction and offered them to return the spots if they agreed to buy them back at a higher price. "If you continue to complain, I will also contact law enforcement," he added.
In conclusion, he expressed hope for resolving the situation and noted that their work was completed on time, while the traders raised complaints only at the completion stage.
