Russia declines to issue 2,000-ruble banknote

An article from The Moscow Times: "Russia's Central Bank has declined to issue a 2,000-ruble banknote honoring the far eastern city of Vladivostok, state news agency RIA Novosti reported Monday.

The proposed banknote, inspired by the song "Vladivostok 2000" by hometown rock stars Mumy Troll, was designed by Russian advertising firm Provoda and become wildly popular on the RuNet, as the Russian-language section of the Internet is known.

The Central Bank, which said it often receives proposals for new banknotes, declined to issue this one "due to the economic situation in the country and considering the demands of cash circulation," RIA cited the bank as saying.

The country's main banknotes in circulation honor an array of Russian cities: Krasnoyarsk (10-ruble banknote), St. Petersburg (50), Moscow (100), Arkhangelsk (500), Yaroslavl (1,000) and Khabarovsk (5,000). The Central Bank in 2013 also issued a limited edition 100-ruble banknote dedicated to the Winter Olympics in Sochi."