AKIPRESS.COM - Turkmenistan government has reportedly banned sale of women's bikini swimsuits and shorts, Azatlyk Turkmen service reported citing traders of clothes, at the moment private shops sell what is left in the warehouse from goods imported before the ban.

Customs clearance are not allowing to import women's bikini swimsuits and shorts. Due to summer season, the demand for those clothes grows. Importing cut-off shorts for men, too, is not allowed. Shops which sell those kinds of clothes are left without any goods. However, officials at border are not explaining reasons for the ban, the sellers say.

The cut-off shorts gained popularity among both men and women due to hot summers, the temperature during which can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius.

Officials did not provide with any comments on this issue, Azatlyk reports.

A source from customs service suggests this ban might be related to Turkmen cultural norms, which ban Turkmen girls to wear bikini swimsuits. However, he could not clarify why this ban has been imposed particularly at this time.

Since Saparmuratov Niyazov’s presidency, variety of bans and restrictions concerning the Turkmen citizens’ outfits were there in Turkmenistan, which prohibits men to have gold teeth, long hair and beard.

In Turkmenistan, the government recommends women and girls to look in particular way, too. Since 2013, the female public workers, students and participants of various public events must wear the same kind of dress with red flowers and national shawl.