According to the traders, Ergeshov offers new spots in a recently constructed building to tenants at prices ranging from 200,000 to 700,000 soms, which significantly exceeds the established monthly rental rate set by the state property fund, amounting to 880 soms per spot. The traders' lawyer, Asylbek Kungurov, explained that after the market was transferred to state management, the rental rates were officially approved, but the director ignores these regulations.
Initially, 18 traders working in the "Kalpak" sector protested against the new pricing system; however, ultimately 13 of them agreed to pay the demanded amount. Nevertheless, the market administration did not sign any contracts with them, and now these individuals are working without official documentation. Four other traders who spoke at the press conference stated that they cannot accept such conditions and demand a contract at the established rental rate. In response to their demands, the market director refused and said, "If you don't pay, you won't be able to trade." As a result, they have been barred from trading spots and have been unable to conduct their business for a month.
The traders have sent appeals to numerous government bodies, including the State Property Fund and the Cabinet of Ministers, but have not achieved any results. In search of a solution to the problem, they met with Ergeshov, and the head of the Kara-Suu police department was also present at the meeting. Ergeshov claimed that he does not demand such large sums, but only spent money on renovating the trading spots and that only four of them express dissatisfaction.
When the police chief offered to mediate, Ergeshov set a condition: let the dissatisfied traders publicly acknowledge that they previously spoke untruths, after which he would agree to return them under the previous conditions. This behavior created the impression that laws operate separately for the market and separately for the state, and access to Ergeshov proved to be more difficult than access to ministers in Bishkek.
Since the market was transferred to state management in 2022, there were plans to create a new building as part of a public-private partnership program with investments of about 12 million dollars. However, work was halted at the foundation preparation stage.
The traders expressed the opinion that Ergeshov either has support at the ministry level or feels like the rightful owner of the market. Ainash Kydyrshaeva, one of the traders with 25 years of experience, appealed to the president to look into the situation. She reported that since the beginning of last year, they have been asked for money to obtain a contract, and despite payment, the contract was never provided. In her attempts to resolve the issue with the director, employees offered a bribe for the contract.
In response to the accusations, market director Nurbek Ergeshov stated that the trading spots are actually state-owned, and about 40 people voluntarily submitted applications for rent. He clarified that the cost of creating one spot reaches 200,000 soms, and that many traders were aware of this but refused the proposed conditions.
Ergeshov also added that if the traders continue to complain, he will be forced to contact law enforcement regarding their illegal occupation of rental spots. In his view, the traders are making claims despite the fact that their spots were ready faster than they themselves demanded.
