The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov for his contributions to the fight against smoking.
Margaret Chan, the WHO's director-general, handed a special medal to Berdymukhammedov at a ceremony in Ashgabat on June 11.
She hailed the Turkmen leader for his efforts to curb the use of tobacco.
Turkmenistan was one of the first post-Soviet countries to crack down on smoking.
The government introduced hefty fines for smoking in public places in 2000.
According to the WHO, the cost of a pack of cigarettes in Turkmenistan is $5 to $6, which is the highest among all of the post-Soviet countries.
Margaret Chan, the WHO's director-general, handed a special medal to Berdymukhammedov at a ceremony in Ashgabat on June 11.
She hailed the Turkmen leader for his efforts to curb the use of tobacco.
Turkmenistan was one of the first post-Soviet countries to crack down on smoking.
The government introduced hefty fines for smoking in public places in 2000.
According to the WHO, the cost of a pack of cigarettes in Turkmenistan is $5 to $6, which is the highest among all of the post-Soviet countries.