Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that on 20 February, 2022 police officers and officials from Ashgabat khyakimlik’s office paid visits to privately-owned stores and requested shop assistants to stop the sale of cigarettes and tobacco. Otherwise, owners might be imposed a fine of 60 manats.
Cigarettes in Ashgabat stores are sold only under the counter. In some retail outlets the price for a pack of cigarettes has skyrocketed from 60 to 200 manats ($57 using the official rate or $12 at the “black market” rate).
In state-run store cigarettes are no longer available.
Inspections were initiated after the Deputy Prime Minister overseeing education, science, healthcare and sport Sapardyrdy Toyliev had briefed acting President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov on the development of the program designed to make Turkmenistan tobacco-free country by 2025.
Irregular supply of cigarettes in Turkmenistan was recorded after the state monopoly on tobacco sale had been imposed in 2016.
It is illegal to sell cigarettes in privately-owned shops but despite this, they can be purchased in any retail outlet.The post Police officers urge owners of Ashgabat private stores to stop the sale of cigarettes first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.