On 1 May the Month of Tobacco Control was launched in Ashgabat. The campaign brought together representatives of agencies, the Ashgabat khyakimlik’s office, non-governmental organizations and city residents.
It should be noted that the Month of Health was held throughout April across the country which resulted in cigarettes disappearing again from the shelves of state-run Turkmen stores.
Shop assistants said that a verbal instruction had been issued in connection with the “Month of Health” held in the country.Since May cigarettes have been supplied to stores but at a higher price.
The price for cigarettes in Ashgabat’s state-run stores increased from 19 to 25 manats per pack.
Despite the ban, cigarettes are available in virtually all privately-owned stores.However, the price for tobacco products is three times as much.If a pack of cigarettes cost about 20 manats in state-run stores, privately-owned shops sell tobacco at 50 to 60 manats.
Let us recall that in 2008 smoking in public places was banned in Turkmenistan. In 2008 the decree banning the production and sale of nas was issued.
In March 2011 the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control was ratified and the National Tobacco Control Action Plan for the years 2012-2016 was drawn up. In 2013 the law “On protecting the health of residents from tobacco smoke and the consequences of tobacco consumption” was adopted.
On 16 April Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov approved the anti-smoking campaign for the years 2017-2021, pursuant to which Turkmenistan is scheduled to become a smoke-free country by 2025.