Why is Russia deliberately weakening its currency?

GOVERNMENTS AND central banks usually insist that they want a strong currency. Not, just now, in Russia. On August 5th the Ministry of Finance declared that it would increase its daily purchases of foreign currencies and gold by around 20%, from 5.4bn roubles (then $69m) in July to 6.5bn roubles. The rouble duly slid,

A strong rouble was hurting the budget