Turkmenistan is still experiencing sugar deficit. A restriction of 1 kilo per person sold at 7 manats applies in state-run stores.
Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that queues have formed in front of retail outlets. In order to conceal the queues, sugar is sold exclusively from rear entrance of the stores (employee entrance).
Early in the morning females convene in front of the stores and spend the day under the sun until the evening. Fights break out in the queues and swear words can be heard. People are outraged because they have to stand for many hours in the streets to buy a kilo of sugar.
Sugar is available at the same price at “Kyamil” markets.From early in the morning a crowd of people assembles at the rear entrance where there is a trolley with 2 kilo packages of sugar, which every customer can buy.
Police officers keep vigil in front of the stores to allow only 5 people in but the latter force their way through the aisle pushing those standing in line.
Customers grab sugar packages and rush to the check-out.
In privately-owned shops the price for sugar is 3-4 manats higher but this difference hits in the pockets of low-income families.
Many residents buy sugar and then resell it to private-owned outlets at a surcharge of several manats.
Let us recall that a shortage of sugar has been recorded in Turkmenistan since early June.Thus, in Dashoguz markets the price for sugar has increased to 10-11kilos per kilo.
In state-run stores a maximum of 1 kilo per household was sold at 7 manats against signed register.