A post which claims Turkmenistan has been providing free water, gas & electricity to its citizens from 1993 to date is being share widely across social media platforms. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Turkmenistan has been providing free water, gas & electricity to its citizens from 1993 to till date.
Fact: While it is true that Turkmenistan government provided free water, gas and electricity to its citizens from 1993, the provision was ended in 2019 by then President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. Bad economic situation due to fall in energy prices and noticeable increase in the income of the population, are among the reasons mentioned behind the move. Currently, no such provisions offering free amenities exist in Turkmenistan. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
It is true that Turkmenistan has provided its citizens with free amenities like water, gas, and electricity since 1993, shortly after the country gained independence from the Soviet Union. However, the provision does not exist today.
Google search with relevant keyword yielded a 2017 news article that reported about the then President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov’s plans to end the existing provision of offering free amenities to its citizens, due to deepening financial difficulties.
As per this report, the subsidies were introduced by Berdymukhamedov’s predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov, in 1993. Under this scheme, every citizen is entitled to 35 kilowatt hours of electricity and 50 cubic meters of natural gas each month. The state also provides 250 liters (66 gallons) of water per day.
Saparmurat Niyazov first ordered in 1993 that all residents of the ex-Soviet republic receive gas, electricity, and water free of charge for a decade. In 2003, the promise was extended through 2020, and in 2006 he further extended it till 2030, reported another article in 2006.
However, in 2018, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov eventually signed the decision to end the free amenities and the move came into effect in 2019. Multiple news agencies reported the governments decision back then. Bad economic situation due to fall in energy prices and noticeable increase in the income of the population, are among the reasons mentioned behind the move.
To sum it up, Government is no longer offering free water, gas & electricity to citizens in Turkmenistan.
