Unpaid leave of public sector employees and staff of state-run companies, a shortage of cash and a price hike are resulting in a declining consumer demand and a reduction in trade in the markets.
The vendors who journalists of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” сontacted complain that in some days they are unable even to cover the daily rent for their market stalls.
Only those vendors who sell perishable food items such as meat, fruit and vegetable are still working in bazaars. Those who sell cereals, canned goods and other groceries with longer shelf lives come to the bazaar only two to three times a week.
Independent media outlets Radio “Azatlyk” and “Turkmen News” are reporting about problems related to cash withdrawals in ATMs.
According to Turkmen News, there were almost 1000 names in the list of those who joined the queue in front of cash machines in Mary.
Residents are forced to wait for 10 to 15 hours to be able to withdraw cash.
“Azatlyk” reported that on 12 August, 2020 hundreds of people who queued up in front on an ATM in Mary organized a spontaneous protest and cordoned off the central street.
The residents were outraged by the fact that “Senegat” and “Daikhan” banks refuse to serve customers from rural areas, who came to the town to withdraw cash.
The protest lasted for about one hour. Only after the arrival of additional law enforcement squads the police officers managed to appease the protesters.
Сorrespondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that Ashgabat is also experiencing a shortage of cash. About a week ago bank notes chewed by mice were given out by an ATM in “Khalk Bank” located on Aba Anaeva street (formerly Ostrovskogo street).
When customers demanded that the bank notes be replaced a bank employee said that “they should be grateful that they have been able to get some cash because there is a shortage of cash all across the country”.
New bank notes were given to people only after a police officer approached the outraged customers and asked the bank employee to replace the damaged notes.