DUSHANBE, May 24, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Currency buying/selling operations for a total amount of more than 3 billion U.S. dollars have been carried out at currency exchange offices across the country over the first four months of this year, according to the National bank of Tajikistan (NBT).

“In April, central bank sold 9.8 million U.S. dollars through the exchange currency offices, while over of the first 18 days of May alone, the NBT has thrown US$10.4 million in market in an attempt to manipulate the currency prices,” the source said, adding that currency interventions will be conducted in the future as well.

This month, Tajikistan has seen a quite sharp currency devaluation.  The Tajik national currency, the somoni, fell more than 3 percent against the dollar – from 4.5:1 in early May to 4.65:1 on May 23.

Tajik central bank reports that the exchange rate of USD against TJS (somoni) slightly increased from 1:4.63 on May 20 to 1:6520 on May 23.  The exchange rates of the euros and the Russian ruble (RR) have also slightly increased over the report period - € from 1:6.56 to 1:6.58 and RR from 10:1.647 to 10:1.665.

In the meantime, current official exchange rates set by Tajik central bank for the somoni against USD, EUR and RR are 4.5125:1, 6.3184:1 and 1.586:10 respectively.