The Tbilisi Municipal Inspection, together with Tbilservice Group, removed unauthorized outdoor stalls and cleaned the area near Station Square metro station and the nearby Deserters’ Market.
Tbilisi City Hall said the operation covered the area around the metro station, as well as Tevdore Mghvdeli, Abastumani and Tsinamdzghvrishvili streets.
Following the removal of the unauthorized structures, workers cleaned the area and washed metro entrances, streets and sidewalks with special foam.
The Head of the Tbilisi Municipal Inspection, Gogi Chikovani, said illegal street trading near Station Square and metro entrances had become increasingly common, with vendors placing temporary structures and stalls on sidewalks, restricting pedestrian movement and, in some cases, obstructing traffic.
Chikovani also said the inspection had documented cases of environmental pollution and unsanitary conditions in the area. He noted that the Municipal Inspection regularly monitors outdoor trade across the capital and takes action against illegally installed structures in public spaces to keep them accessible.
The Tbilisi Municipal Inspection said the operation aimed to improve pedestrian and traffic flow, eliminate unauthorized street trading and address unsanitary conditions.
Equality Policy Program Director at the Social Justice Center Tamta Mikeladze, criticized the operation, arguing that City Hall’s statement ignores the people whose livelihoods depend on street trading. She suggested that the municipality focused on removing visible signs of poverty rather than addressing its causes.
Mikeladze questioned whether the city had offered alternative trading spaces, social assistance or employment opportunities to those affected before carrying out the operation. She argued that public policy should prioritize the needs of vulnerable residents, not only the appearance and order of public spaces.
