The population of Turkmenistan continues to face difficulties in purchasing basic food products at subsidized prices. Products at government-mandated prices rarely appear on the shelves. In some regions, flour, bread and butter are not sold for months. Meanwhile, prices are rising.

At subsidized prices, there is a high demand by the population for food products, that is, a limited quantity of food called rations. Bread, flour and vegetable oil, sold in limited quantities at state prices, are the staple food of many Turkmen citizens. But the masses cannot buy these products for a long time. RFE/RL's correspondents regularly report on the protracted food crisis, while listeners also send in information about food shortages.

In a message sent to Azatly on October 10 by a resident of Turkmenabad, it is said that the population of houses between 27 and 39 located in the third quarter of the city has not been able to buy food at subsidized prices for three months. According to him, these houses belong to the 72nd state store, and the store employees also complain about the lack of supplies. The listener reported that the residents filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office and the city administration.

"I have two disabled children at home. They are alone at the moment. I am also abroad and cannot send money at the moment. Please, publish our concern. Let the government hear and do what it needs to do," writes Reimberdi Gurbanov, a resident of Turkmenabad.

RFE/RL tried to get information from store employees, the city hall and the prosecutor's office, but was unable to contact authorities.

Meanwhile, the speech of a citizen of Turkmenistan was posted on YouTube and it was reported that the residents of several districts of Turkmenabad have not been able to buy flour, oil and chicken meat at the state price for three months.

RFE/RL's correspondents report that state-owned stores in Turkmenabat often do not sell staples such as flour, vegetable oil, chicken thighs and eggs at subsidized prices. This situation also applies to other regions of Turkmenistan.

In Lebap Velayat, it was last reported that products were sold at subsidized prices at the end of September, on Independence Day. In Turkmenabad markets, eggs, cottonseed oil and chicken thighs were sold in a short period of time and for a limited amount of cash. Many of those waiting in line ran out of food. Payment cards not accepted. Azatlyk reporters reported on this on September 27.

"Chronicle of Turkmenistan" reported that the price of bread in Ashgabat state stores has increased four times these days.

Over the past week, the price of bread in Ashgabat's Anev grain stores has quadrupled. For example, in the shop located in Parahat-7/1 district, the price of Turkmen bread, which used to be 70 tenge, has increased to 3 manats, and its weight has decreased from 600 to 510 grams, the report says.

The complainants tried to find out the reason and called the price control department of the Ashgabat administration. They were told they would be checked, but a week later nothing had changed, the report said.

RFE/RL's correspondent in Ashgabat says that cheap bread is sold in the morning. There are long queues at the bakery.

"Cheap bread sells out very quickly and you can hear the squealing. I know this bread goes bad very quickly if it's not eaten properly," says the reporter.

According to him, flour is sold at subsidized prices in the capital's stores only in the morning. Here, flour is sold for 1 kilogram, the price of one kilogram is 18-20 manats. You can also buy eggs in Ashgabat state stores for 1 manat each, but they are not widely sold.

Due to the continuous decline in the standard of living of the population and the increase in the price of goods and services, most of the country's residents depend on food products at subsidized prices. Despite government-subsidized price hikes over the past two years, as well as poor quality of goods, people have to queue for hours, but this food remains out of reach for the masses.