By RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service, August 23, 2014
A rare public protest took place in the Turkmen capital when some 50 people blocked cranes from removing air conditioners from the windows of their apartments.
Residents of the Parahat-7 neighborhood in the Turkmen capital were told last week to remove the air conditioners from windows on their apartments overlooking Baba Annanov Street.
No reason for the order was given.
When cranes came on August 23 to remove the air conditioners, several residents blocked the cranes and prevented them from approaching the apartments.
The workers and cranes eventually left the site.
Residents of the apartment blocks told RFE/RL they will not allow officials to remove their air-conditioning units.
Some also called for a march on the district governor’s office to voice their opposition to the plan to remove their air conditioners.
Summer temperatures in Ashgabat can reach 50 degrees Celsius.