MOSCOW, August 10 (RIA Novosti) - The Board of Directors of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia) have decided to issue new banknotes in the denomination of 5,000 rubles (about $180) in 2006, a bank news release said.

The new 5,000 ruble banknotes will be put into circulation to meet cash turnover and average wage growth in Russia, the bank said.

The banknote's design will continue the 1997 "Russian cities" series with images of the Russian Far East city of Khabarovsk.

The Bank of Russia intends to present a description of the new banknote and its security features in early 2006.