For the second month in a row cigarettes have not been sold in Turkmenistan’s state-run stores. Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that tobacco products can be purchased in privately-owned shops but they cost three times as much.
Private vendors are selling a pack of cigarettes, which cost 25 manats in state-run stores, at 70 manats.
The owners of privately-owned retail outlets make arrangements with managers of state-run stores to purchase cigarettes from warehouses at 30-35 manats per pack and resell with a two-fold surcharge.
The majority of smokers cannot afford to buy cigarettes in packs and for this reason they occasionally buy cigarettes per piece, at the price of 3,50 manats.
Tobacco products are still prevented from being imported from the checkpoint Badzhigiran, bordering Iran, where residents used to import cigarettes from to be further resold in Ashgabat.
According to sources of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”, cigarettes are often confiscated at Ashgabat airports. Previously, a restriction of two packs per passenger has applied.
Let us recall that tobacco products have not been sold in Turkmenistan’s state-run stores since late August.
It was reported that the cigarettes are available at the store stockrooms but the sale will be resumed after the Khalk Maslakhaty session and the Day of Independence.