Cossacks of St. Petersburg started to issue currency featuring Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Over a million bank notes is in circulation, Andrey Polyakov, head of the Cossack association ‘Irbis’, said. The community members can pay this money for repairing equipment or buying products at their farm.
Apart from the Russian leader, the images of ataman Polyakov himself, Russian Emperor Nicholas II and other famous people are printed on the notes.
The currency of Cossacks is more expensive than the Russian ruble: one grosh (грош) equals one hundred rubles, one altyn (алтын) – one thousand rubles, and one bashlya (башля) – ten thousand rubles.
St. Petersburg Prosecutor’s Office and the Central Bank of Russia have already taken an interest in the self-made currency and are going to check its legality.
