Turkmen communism

21.04.2016 Policy 129 Views

When you tell something about Turkmenistan, you the reader will say: “Ha, but they have everything for free!” Indeed, there is a version that in exchange for restricting some freedoms of the Turkmen received a complete freebie, which for many years had dreamed of the long-suffering long-suffering residents of the Soviet Union. Turkmenistan partly to build communism could, but even in their case, this design was short lived and began to crumble. Today on fabulous freebies gradually have to forget.

For a long time Turkmenistan could boast almost free utilities. Here is still not taken to save electricity, water or gas. Turkmens may not turn off the gas, so as not to waste a match on its inclusion! Since 1993 all citizens of Turkmenistan on the initiative of Niyazov have free gas, water and electricity. The utility bills in Turkmenbashi were so minor that the receipt came once a year.

Almost free communal was in the opposite direction. And electricity, gas and water often give not even a full day. Electricity is periodically cut down in several parts of the city, hot water is often simply not there, or she could only be at certain times. In case of shortages of gas in most of the families had cookers. This tradition has been preserved and Berdimuhamedov: for example, in rural areas continues several times a week at night the electricity is shut off. And in some cities in the yards are huge tanks with water in case of power.

In early 2015 the cost of utilities has risen sharply, on average 12-15 times. If earlier the owner of one bedroom apartment in Ashgabat the annual bill came to 9 manat (169 rubles at current exchange rate), now he has to pay 133 manats (2.5 thousand rubles) a year.

From 1 February 2015 the cost of utilities is: 0.2 manats per 1 sq. meter of housing, 0.2 manats for the heating 10 sq meter apartment, 0.05 manats for Sewerage (per resident of the apartment), 0.2 manats per each 10 cubic meters of water consumed over the limit. But it’s still so low that people did not notice the increase.

Electricity also has its own regulations and paid for separately. For a long time (since 1993) rate of consumption was 35 kWh per person per month, but in 2013 it was reduced to 25 kWh. Completely free yet it remains a gas.

In 2006, shortly before his death, Niyazov signed the decree “About free providing the population of Turkmenistan of natural gas, electricity, water and table salt till 2030”, which was also ordered to leave unchanged the price of gasoline and diesel fuel.

Apparently, in the near future these privileges will be cancelled. According to Berdimuhamedov, benefits “from an economic point of view is not justified”. “This factor impedes the transition to a market economy, and also leads to additional expenditure of budgetary funds”, – he said.

To cancellation of benefits has not caused protests from the population, the chief enlisted the support of elders. In November 2015, in the Council of elders of Turkmenistan in the Avaza has been suggested that Turkmens live too well in the rays of Sunny lights of Arcadia, and more to gas them.

“We have such a good life in the epoch of power and happiness that the residents of the country can pay for gas, water and electricity!”, – said one of the elders.

So, apparently, soon will be signed the decree that will deprive residents of Turkmenistan’s free gas and salt.

Gasoline

During the reign of Turkmenbashi litre of petrol in the country was worth 2 cents (a$0.02) – cheaper than a litre of ordinary drinking water. Over 10 years of Turkmen gasoline was the cheapest in the world.

After Niyazov’s death rates increased dramatically (8 times), but from our point of view, the fuel still cost a penny. When Berdimuhamedov was put a limit on free petrol: the government provided car owners coupons for 120 liters per month, the rest I had to buy myself.

Coupons for gasoline and diesel were issued every six months, once in 6 months. The right to receive free fuel from the government were the owners of vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes and not more than 8 passenger seats in the cabin. Motorcyclists were given 40 liters per month.

Petrol coupons have become in Turkmenistan informal currency. People traded them, sold them, it was possible to pay with vouchers at the bar if the bartender was need fuel.

But this freebie quickly ended. The Turkmens, who had no car, began to file lawsuits to the leader about the injustice. Why this freebie is distributed upon the availability of the car? The situation was aggravated by hitogoroshi many Turkmen families who were registered on a bunch of avtohlama, to get more gasoline. State media and wrote, saying, “some of them acquire and draw on their relatives, dozens of vehicles, using them for selfish purposes free of motor fuel, issued by the state”.

Social tensions grew, and in April 2014 the leader shut up shop, and from 2015 have raised petrol prices immediately 60%. This measure proved so unpopular that even the consonants are all the Turkmen organized a protest. According to some reports, the building of GAI of Akhal province came just 500 drivers who staged a fight with police. The demonstration was able to overclock only with the help of the local OMON.

Now a liter of gasoline in Turkmenistan is worth 29 cents, that is, in the region of 19-20 rubles. Nevertheless, fuel continues to be one of the cheapest in the world, less than a liter of gasoline costs only in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. However, incomes in these countries are not comparable with the salaries of the Turkmen.

Apartment/mortgage

Housing in Turkmenistan is also doing well, although not as it was before. Previously, the government subsidized mortgages. That is, it was possible to take the credit, and half of it closed the state. Now such favourable conditions have a certain circle of civil servants, for example, workers in the oil and gas industry. There is a version that the right to a subsidized mortgage loan have with teachers and doctors, but to find a teacher who confirmed it for me I couldn’t.

But for all others too to buy an apartment is not a problem, as the rate on a mortgage loan in Turkmenistan 1-2%! With the first 5 years you pay only interest, for a total of about $ 100, and then gradually pay the principal debt.

Here we must understand that real estate in Ashgabat is not very expensive (a Studio apartment can cost around $50 000, and the majority of the population gets $400-500 a month).

The right to receive an apartment from the state housing Fund free have large families raising four or more children, and also invalids I and II groups, veterans, orphans and so on. In fact, the government actively promotes support for large families, so flats often accrue to those who have, say, 6 or 8 children.

While Berdimuhamedov has developed the practice of “forced mortgage”: the officials and other state employees are forced to take out a mortgage on an apartment, the cost of which may exceed 65 thousand dollars. The authorities decided that a mortgage loan be sure to pay within 4 years instead of the usual 30. It is known that some employees of the people’s Bank of Turkmenistan, which refused the draconian mortgages, were dismissed.

By the way, in spite of popularization of the benefits of Turkmenbashi strange did to pensions, simply repealing them. According to Niyazov, the children should support their parents. When Berdimuhamedov pension back, but their size is small. A pensioner can get in the region of 300 manat (5.6 thousand rubles). If the allowance of gas, water and electricity will cancel, the elderly will not be easy. Although the elders believe will be very good.

Unemployment in Turkmenistan is now almost never paid, because the government is trying to hide the sheer scale of the phenomenon. According to some reports, no work has 1.5 million residents is more than a quarter of the population! That is why many prefer to leave to work somewhere in Turkey.

The dollar in Turkmenistan fixed, since the beginning of 2015 $1 worth 3.5 manat. More than the past six years the dollar could be bought for 2.85 manat. At the end of 2015 the government introduced the card system of buying currency to buy dollars, it was necessary to stand in a queue in the Bank, to receive special coupons and then exchange them for foreign currency. In January, the sale of foreign currency in exchange offices was suspended. Local residents fear a new devaluation of the manat, even more serious, and going to buy dollars and euros from the money changers. On the black market the dollar may cost 4.5 to 6 manat.

The cult of personality in Turkmenistan

Dangerous walk on the evening Ashgabat
Forbidden Turkmenistan