DUSHANBE, July 1, 2009, Asia-Plus – Suspension of the Cherkizov market in Moscow has resulted in some 10,000 Tajik migrants being left without jobs.
The head of the Moscow-based media holding Tajinfo Muhammad Egamzod told Asia-Plus today that the Cherkizov market has not worked for already three days. According to him, the market has been suspended due to numerous shortcomings revealed in its work. “By Moscow authorities’ decision the Cherkizov market will be closed until all shortcomings are removed,” Egamzod said.
He notes that that there has been a great deal of talk about closure of the market since 2007 already. Arsons and criminal fueds have been repeatedly reported at the market. Later, the term of closure of the market was postponed till 2009.
Egamzod says the Cherkizov market is expected to be relocated outside Moscow and a new trade center with sports complex and park will be built in the place of it by 2011.
The Cherkizov market is one of the largest whole-sale and retail trading complex in Russia. Goods are brought to the market from the former Soviet republics and foreign countries as well.
According to Egamzod, some 8,000-10,000 Tajik nationals worked for the market. “Tajik migrants working in the Cherkizov market could be divided into three groups: loading workmen (major part); hired sellers; and Tajik businessmen running their shops in the market,” Egamzod said, adding that it is hard to determine the exact number of Tajik nationals working for the market because the majority of them have not been registered.
Working for the market allowed them keeping their families at home above the poverty line and the closure of the market will create serious problems for them and may raise the stress caused by a lack of domestic job opportunities, the Tajinfo head said.
