Skopje Old Bazaar venues closed after inspections; owners allege selective enforcement
Managers accept some sanctions for breaking hours but demand transparency, while the State Market Inspectorate says up to fifteen prohibitions were issued.
Several hospitality venues that operate under the umbrella of "Kaldrma" in Skopje's Old Bazaar have been closed and parts of some premises sealed after recent inspections. The pub and the winery are currently not operating, and managers say they have received no clear explanation beyond notices of violations.
Owners accuse inspectors of selective enforcement
Tea Jankovic, manager of the affected complex, told reporters she and her colleagues accept sanctions for breaking business hours but suspect the State Market Inspectorate is applying the rules selectively. She said the operators want transparency about enforcement and complain they are being singled out for playing Macedonian music.
Jankovic said: "We admit that we should be sanctioned — no one should be above the law, but I believe there are suspicions of selectivity, because one of our premises can be closed while other premises on the street operate at the same pace. We have a question for the competent institutions: who wants to destroy the Macedonian spirit in the Bazaar and the nightlife? We only want to nurture our culture, I think the Bazaar is a place for everyone, we are not against anyone, but we who play Macedonian music are the most sanctioned. We want transparency, accountability and rules that apply to everyone."
The State Market Inspectorate confirmed inspections are ongoing across the Old Bazaar. Director Vlatko Stojkoski said some measures have already been issued and denied that the agency is acting selectively.
Vlatko Stojkoski, director of the State Market Inspectorate, said: "The State Market Inspectorate acts on the basis of complaints. In part, we conduct coordinated actions with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. For the specific case there are up to fifteen issued decisions prohibiting the conduct of activities because they operate without a license and constantly exceed working hours and put visitors at risk."
The Old Bazaar is both a developed tourist area and an important cultural-historical zone in Skopje. Operators in the area have historically sometimes worked later than the legally permitted hours for hospitality venues, and authorities say that repeated breaches and lack of licenses have prompted the current enforcement measures.
Photo: press material from the event
