[2] In Tajikistan, pre-1993 Soviet rubles ceased to be legal tender on 8 January 1994.

The reason for this was largely lack of funds and resources, with Tajikistan being the poorest of the former Soviet republics and absorbing its share[clarification needed] of the former union's economic collapse.

By the end of the decade, rampant inflation caused by economic problems had essentially destroyed the Tajikistani ruble, and plans to replace it with a new currency were drawn up in 1999.

The colour schemes can be traced back to the later issues of the Russian Empire.

This is because the Tajikistani ruble was printed under the direction of Goznak, the official Russian agency responsible for the production of banknotes and coins.