RUSSIAN OFFICIALS DENY RUMORS OF CURRENCY REFORM.

Interviewed last night on Russian TV, Russian finance minister Aleksandr Livshits denied that Russia is planning a monetary reform. (ORT, September 12) Rumors have been rife in the Russian media that, following Ukraine’s successful introduction of its new currency, which knocked five noughts off Ukraine’s old, interim currency, Russia was planning to follow suit with a similar currency reform. A five-ruble banknote would be issued instead of the current 50,000-ruble one and at the same time four noughts would be crossed out on price tags. The rumors have already been denied by the Central Bank. (Interfax, September 12)

CIS Border Troop Commanders’ Meeting Defeats Moscow’s Agenda.