Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that cigarettes have not been sold in Turkmenistan’s state-run stores since late August.
The residents are convinced that the restrictions were imposed in the run-up to the Khalk Maslakhaty session and the Day of Independence.At the same time, as “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” has previously reported in the run-up to the aforementioned events cheap produce has been supplied to the store counters.
Cigarettes of the brands, which were available in state-run stores, can be purchased in privately-owned retail outlets.
Vendors buy cigarettes at state-run stores at 30-35 manats per pack.For this they make arrangements with store managers and buy out cigarettes at the price which is 5 to 10 manats higher than the fixed price.
One of the shop assistants said that cigarettes are delivered to shop warehouses but according to the instructions from the higher-ranking authorities, the sale of tobacco will be resumed only after public holidays.
Moreover, prices are expected to be increased.
Now a pack of cigarettes, which have been previously sold at state-run retail outlets, are sold at privately-owned shops at 45 manats. The price per piece is 2,50 manats.
A pack of Kent cigarettes costs 5055 manats or 3-3,5 per piece whereas Parliament costs 7580 manats.
At the Cabinet session held on 29 December 2017 President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov said that “in the new year residents will have to give up smoking”.
After the state monopoly for the sale of cigarettes was imposed in 2016, Turkmenistan occasionally experiences tobacco deficit.
The Turkmen authorities have previously reported that by 2025 Turkmenistan will become a smoke-free country.