Moscow Bulldozes Small Business Into Oblivion

A worker watches as an excavator is used to demolish illegal street kiosks and stalls near Chistiye Prudy metro station in Moscow, Russia, Feb. 9, 2016.



Large-scale demolition of kiosks and small shopping centers began in Moscow on Monday night, the RIA Novosti news agency reported Tuesday.



As of Tuesday morning, 55 percent of the properties subject to removal had been completely removed, Sergei Shogurov, head of the capital's real estate inspectorate, told the news agency.



The decision to demolish trade properties that according to City Hall were constructed illegally, was taken in December and affects 104 properties.

People walk past illegal street kiosks and stalls that were demolished near the Chistiye Prudy metro station.

People walk past illegal street kiosks and stalls that were demolished near the Kropotkinskaya metro station, with the Cathedral of Christ the Savior seen in the background.

A man looks out of the window decorated with a sign which reads "Ours isn't a self-built building!" during a demolition of illegal street kiosks and stalls near the Kropotkinskaya metro station, with the Cathedral of Christ the Savior seen in the background.

A worker uses a cutting torch to dismantle a steel structure during the demolition of illegal street kiosks and stalls.

People carry a metal construction for scrap metal during a demolition of illegal street kiosks and stalls near Sokol metro station.