Turkmenistan to increase its fines for smoking in public places to US$35 starting Jan. 1

Nevin Barich

KYRGYZSTAN , December 9, 2013 (Central Asian News Service) – New Code of Administrative Offences of Turkmenistan will come into fore on January 1, 2014. Its Article 79 provides for a fine of 100 manats or $35 for cigarette smoking, including shisha and other tobacco products in the bodies of state power and administration, as well as local authorities, enterprises, institutions and organizations irrespective of ownership, military units and connections, educational institutions, theaters and cinemas, public transport, parks and other places of mass visits of citizens. In addition, the cigarettes and tobacco products, as well as devices for smoking will be confiscated. Currently, the penalty is 75 manats, ITAR-TASS reported.

Speaking in Ashgabat at the opening ceremony of the WHO European Ministerial Conference on prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in the context of provisions of the policy Health 2020, Turkmen President stressed that fight against smoking was launched in 2000. In 2011, Turkmenistan has ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and in conjunction with the WHO Regional Office developed a National Action Plan on Tobacco Control for 2012-2016. In addition, the country's parliament has developed a
law on protection of public health from exposure to tobacco smoke and the effects of tobacco use.

The slogan 'Healthy nation - the country's wealth' is an inherent part of life for most citizens of Turkmenistan, the president said.

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