Elista restaurateurs threaten authorities with protests

Owners of cafés and restaurants in Kalmykia are planning protest actions demanding to ease the restrictive measures in public catering and support the entrepreneurs who have to stay without incomes.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 7, entrepreneurs involved in the restaurant business in Elista asked the head of Kalmykia to allow the opening of at least summer cafés outdoors. Restaurant owners and renters believe that the quarantine can destroy their businesses.

On July 9, a group of Elista businessmen working in the field of public catering met Dmitry Troitsky, the Minister of Economics of Kalmykia. They discussed government support measures for the businesses that were forced to quit due to the quarantine, as well as the reopening of restaurants and cafés.

Bairta Tostaeva, the director of the "Legenda" Restaurant, who took part in the meeting of a group of restaurateurs with Minister Troitsky, expressed hope that the authorities would hear the entrepreneurs' requests.

"We spoke that the government should either allow us to open restaurants, or support us financially. Mr Troitsky said he would petition for restaurants to open. We replied that we agree to any requirements of the 'Rospotrebnadzor' – just give us a chance to work," Ms Tostaeva told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

She has stressed that restaurateurs are ready for protest actions if they are not heard.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 11, 2020 at 01:45 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.