German Gref: no attempts being made to curb ruble's rise

German Gref, Economic Development and Trade Minister said in Vladivostok on Sunday, the Russian government and Central Bank are not curbing the ruble's rise artificially.

"I don't know who is curbing the ruble. The exchange rate policy is fully pegged on the market. No artificial attempts are being made to curb the ruble," the minister told journalists when asked to comment on the idea of letting the ruble float free.

Given current prices for oil, "the ruble will be rising and inflation will continue," he said.

Gref said once again that, "The Central Bank is not maintaining an artificial exchange rate of the ruble.", reported INTERFAX