Cash Register Protests Resume

Policemen form cordon around protesters outside the Parliament to prevent a possible blocking of the Rustaveli avenue.

Up to a thousand people gathered outside the Parliament on March 1 to protest against a law requiring merchants to equip their stores in outdoor markets with cash registers. A similar protest rally was held on February 28 as well.

According to the law, those sellers who are not using cash registers starting from March 1 will have to pay a GEL 500 (USD 278) fine. The Finance Ministry claims that the law became necessary in order to register sellers’ revenues and subject these revenues to tax inspection.

But many sellers say that they can not afford to purchase cash registers. They are also demanding to pay fixed tax rates.

Protest rallies were also held by outdoor sellers in Batumi, Gori and Signagi, Kakheti region on March 1.

In interviews aired by different television stations, protesters in Gori claimed that the local authorities were creating obstacles to prevent them from coming to Tbilisi to join the protest rally outside the Parliament.

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