Rostelecom(NYSE: ROS; RTS: RTKM), Russia’s national long-distance telecommunications operator, today announced appointment of Andrey A. Shlyapnikov as Deputy General Director for Quality Management effective December 3, 2003. Currently Andrey Shlyapnikov holds the position of General Director of RTComm.RU.

Rostelecom’s General Director Dmitry Yerokhin commented: “for the past two years Rostelecom's management has been undertaking massive efforts to prepare the Company for competition in an open market environment, where meeting the highest standards of quality is crucial for success. Thus, we decided to create such a position and were looking for candidates. Andrey Shlyapnikov has substantial experience of working for commercial telecom operators, where quality issues have always been considered of the highest importance.
I am sure that he will complement our management team through his wealth of experience.”

Andrey Shlyapnikov has held the position of General Director of RTComm.RU since 2002. He has worked in the telecommunications sector for over 25 years. Prior to joining RTComm.RU he had worked for Equant, holding positions of regional manager and head of representative office in Novosibirsk. Mr. Shlyapnikov was born in Novosibirsk in 1951 and graduated from Novosibirsk Electrotechnical Telecommunications Institute in 1974. He also completed courses at the Duke University, Faqua School of Business, Harvard University, Achieve Global.

Rostelecom Headquarters
Address: 14, 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya street, Moscow, 125047, Russia

Phone: +7 (095) 972–82–83
Fax: (095) 787–28–50
E-mail: rostelecom@nmc.rospac.ru