On August 15, residents of the city of Mary participating in the lottery smashed the Belent shopping center, Radio Azatlyk and Turkmen news reported .

The lottery was organized by representatives of a foreign company that sells clothes, as well as a local manufacturer of soft drinks. Customers had to buy their products for a certain amount, for which they were given lottery tickets.

On this day, the prize draw was to take place. But for some reason it did not take place, and more than 4 thousand people have already gathered near the building. Because of this, the crowd began to smash the shopping center: they smashed the windows, broke the equipment, ruined the car, which was supposed to be the main prize.

The police arrived at the scene and beat the rioters with rubber truncheons.

Radio Azatlyk writes that lottery tickets were given for a pair of socks purchased for 50 manats. Moreover, the organizers of the draw claimed that all lottery tickets are win-win and each of their owners will be able to receive some kind of prize.

After the pogrom on August 15, lottery organizers began to take back sold socks, but only if they were not worn, and return the money. The repeat lottery scheduled for August 17 has been cancelled.

Source: Chronicles of Turkmenistan