Market removed on April 18: Police drove away illegal vendors from ZAVNOBiH Square

The green market at ZAVNOBiH Square in Alipašino Polje was removed on April 18, 2016, by a decision of the Novi Grad Municipality, yet some vendors still bring their goods daily and sell them on makeshift tables, writes the Bosnian news agency Patria.

However, since they are doing so illegally, members of the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton told them today that they cannot stay there. 

Although there is a built facility on the square with several tenants, vendors claim the rent is too expensive and that they cannot make any profit. 

When the market was removed, the Novi Grad Municipality stated that the regulatory plan designates this area as a pedestrian zone.

- Given that the aforementioned public area, according to the Regulatory Plan “Alipašino Polje,” adopted by the Sarajevo City Assembly back in 1974, does not provide for a green market but rather a paved pedestrian surface, the illegal structures were removed to restore the space to its intended use. The stall owners operate illegally and without permission, which is contrary to legal provisions - it was stated at the time.