From 20 to 24 December, 2021 Serdar Berdymukhammedov, the son of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, who holds the position of the Deputy Prime Minister overseeing finance, paid visits to all five velayats to check the range of groceries and goods sold in local markets and their prices, following his father’s order.
According to television footage, identical price tags with state-established prices can be seen in all shop counters. However, it was impossible to see price tags before the arrival of the Deputy Prime Minister.
According to correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”, during the inspections prices were indeed reduced to be the same as in state-run shops.
In the morning of 21 December, when the Deputy Prime Minister arrived in Dashoguz velayat, residents of Dashoguz and neighbouring villages headed to “Dunya-bazaar” (formerly, “Shor-bazaar”).
The sections of the markets where television footage devoted to Serdar Berdymukhammedov’s visit was made was closed for visitors but residents were allowed access to other parts of the market.
The deputy prime minister did not stay long in the market and then headed to the holy place of “360 saints” located near the city of Kunya-Urgench.
During the day groceries were indeed sold at the prices indicated on the tags, which caused an increased demand and arguments in the queues. Police squadron ensured order.
On the day of the visit of Berdymukhammedov junior to Lebap velayat as well as before his arrival, groceries were sold at state price in Turkmenabat and etraps.
For instance, a kilo of chicken drumsticks cost 12 manats and beef – 30 manats.Law enforcement officers monitored prices to make sure vendors did not increase them.Bread was supplied to state-run stores twice a day.
However, on 25 December Serdar Berdymukhammedov briefed his father that markets provided abundance of groceries at affordable prices.
Later the same day the price for local meat, which had cost 35 manats over the past few days, doubled. Now a kilo of meat costs 75 manats.
In the market buffalo meat imported from Iran costs 35 manats а kilo in the market №3, the 30th residential district. It is referred to as meat blocks because it is delivered in frozen blocks of 2,5 to 4 kilos.
The state-established price for sugar has also increased. A kilo was previously sold at 9 manats whereas now it is 16 manats. In privately-owned stores a kilo of sugar costs 20 to 22 manats.
There are few people queuing up for imported buffalo meat and sugar. These are primarily purchased by residents of rural areas located around Ashgabat as well as those who have no residence registration in the capital.
Only those who hold residence registration are entitled to receive ration packs which are delivered to homes of Ashgabat residents and sold at stat-run prices.The post Prices for groceries increase after Serdar Berdymukhammedov completes inspections of markets first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.