DUSHANBE, February 16, 2014, Asia-Plus — Currency-exchange points in Tajikistan”s capital, Dushanbe, have stopped selling U.S. dollars as the national Tajik currency, the somoni, has lost 3 percent of its value against the dollar since February 11, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on February 14.
The rate on February 10 was 4.8 somoni to $1.
Operators at exchange points told RFE/RL on February 14 that the current rate was more than 5 somoni for $1.
Tajikistan”s National Bank said on February 14 that the situation had nothing to do with the 19 percent devaluation of Kazakhstan”s national currency, the tenge, announced this week.
Officials in neighboring Kyrgyzstan said on February 13 that the tenge”s devaluation had prompted the Kyrgyz National Bank to initiate a $27 million intervention to stabilize the situation.
Kyrgyz Economy Minister Temir Sariyev said on February 14 that the government was not able to sustain the value of the Kyrgyz national currency, the som, for a long time.
