In connection with the anti-tobacco campaign held in May, cigarettes have again disappeared from Turkmenistan’s state-run stores. The campaign is over but cigarettes are still not available.
Despite the ban, cigarettes can be purchased in privately-owned stores, but the price for tobacco products is twice or three times as much.
If a pack of cigarettes cost about 25 manats in state-run stores, privately-owned shops sell tobacco at 60 manats and more ($17 at the government-established rate or $10 using “the black market” rate).
Due to high prices, many smokers are now buying cigarettes by piece. A cigarette of the cheap brand costs 3,5 manats.
Many have switched to a cheaper alternative common tobacco or nas, which is sold approximately at 5 manats per pack. Since the sale of nas is prohibited in Turkmenistan, a fine is imposed if a person is detained with nas and even threatened to be sent to a drug abuse clinic.
However, a fine may be imposed even if a person is detained with several packs of regular cigarettes. Penalty for illegal sale of tobacco applies in this case. Many smokers buy several packs for future use fearing that cigarettes will again disappear from privately-owned stores.
As “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” has reported, khyakims were authorized to replenish the region budgets by imposing fines on legal entities and individuals at every given opportunity.