Traders in Almaty Speak Out Against Confiscation of Parking Near Wholesale Market

Around 100 people gathered near the wholesale store at the intersection of Raimbek and Mekhanicheskaya streets to express dissatisfaction with the Akimat’s decision to seize the parking lot for municipal needs, Orda.kz reports.

The group warned that if city authorities did not reverse their decision, they would be prepared to organize a formal protest.

Sellers, loaders, and other market workers are concerned about the removal of the parking area used for truck deliveries and shipments.

If there is no parking lot, there will be no work. Our work depends only on the size of the parking lot. The bigger it is, the more people come to us and load up at our Barys-IV market ( According to documents, it still belongs to the late Bolat Nazarbayev ). Everyone in the region who comes to us knows about this parking lot,
said one of the traders. 

The area in question measures 2,300 square meters. Market workers insist the land is leased from the market administration and that payments are made regularly.

However, the notice from the Akimat states that the territory is classified as unauthorized use.

According to market administrators, they received a notice on May 14 requiring the area to be cleared of vehicles and containers by May 19. 

Those gathered expressed frustration, stating that they were not informed why the space was being cleared or what was planned for the site.

Police arrived at the scene but made no arrests.

After about 30 minutes, the group dispersed but said they would continue to defend their right to use the lot, emphasizing that its removal would severely affect some workers and deprive others of income altogether.

Notably, LLP Barys-IV, which operates the market of the same name, and LLP Almaty Rent Company were previously closely linked to Bolat Nazarbayev. 

Original Author: Danil Utyupin