According to sources of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”, after a two-month break cigarettes have appeared on the counters of state-run stores in Ashgabat. Cigarettes with a price of 25 manats per pack were available early in the morning of 21 June but by 9 a.m. the sale was stopped.
In connection with the anti-tobacco campaign held in May, cigarettes once again disappeared from Turkmenistan’s state-run stores.
The campaign is over but cigarettes have not been available for a long time.
Cigarettes can be purchased at 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 a shortage of cigarettes many residents have switched to common tobacco or nas, which costs approximately 5 manats per pack.