Opposition Gears up for Protests

Opposition New Rights and Labor Party, as well as Democratic Front parliamentary faction (uniting Conservative and Republican parties) will hold a protest rally outside the Parliament on March 9 against the new regulation imposed for the outdoor market vendors.

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. Although some sellers have already bought cash registers, another part claims they can not afford to purchase cash registers and demand to pay fixed tax rates.

Opposition Democratic Front parliamentary faction has offered the Parliament to postpone enforcement of the new regulation for several months and impose fixed tax rates for outdoor market vendors. But the authorities say they will not compromise over this issue.