Because of the coronavirus pandemic the ban on restaurants and centres for festivities has been introduced in Turkmenabat. Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that their owners organize festivities in private backyards in order to retain customers and generate some revenue.
Those wishing to organize a wedding, a birthday party, a male circumcision ceremony or other family event are warned by a restaurant owner that a bribe of 5000 manats needs to be paid to a certain Interior Ministry official and a fee of 1000 manats – to the owner of rental premises.
The amount of 5000 manats is split evenly between executives of the velayat offices of the Interior Ministry, the NSM, the public prosecutor’s office, the court and the deputy khyakim of the velayat overseeing law enforcement agencies.
Private yards in Turkmenabat are rented out in houses located on Izmir street, where high-ranking officials reside, on Chekov streets in the residential district Zheleznodorozhny and the 3rd district near a pharmacy.
A similar situation is being observed in etraps. For example, in Sayat, the owner of the centre for festivities “Balsayat” organizes events in leased backyards.
Meanwhile, some restaurants, beauty parlours and consumer goods stores are operating without any restrictions.
In “Chatma” restaurants, located in “Ashgabat” park, banquets with a large number of guests are held on a daily basis despite a police station nearby. Festivities are also arranged in “Veranda” restaurant, located on the intersection of Oguzkhan (formerly, Aitakova street) and Ankara (formerly, Yubileynaya street) streets.
Many premises request that customers make advance payments for table reservations. On workdays the prepayment amounts to 300 manats, from Friday to Sunday 400 manats. These are the amounts of minimal orders. Restaurants are not experiencing a shortage of customers.
Some of these restaurants, beauty parlours and shops close the central entrance and let customers in through side entrances.The post Festivities can be held in a private yard in Turkmenabad after paying a bribe first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.