Moscow (August 17, 2004) - Open Joint Stock Company "Vimpel-Communications" ("VimpelCom" or the "Company") (NYSE: VIP) today announced it has received the numbering capacity from the Federal Agency on Communications ("the Agency"), whose activities are coordinated by the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications. The Agency granted VimpelCom the right to immediately use the initial tranche of telephone numbers in the federal 906 code.
Commenting on today's announcement, Alexander Izosimov, Chief Executive Officer of VimpelCom, said, "We highly appreciate the decision of the Federal Agency on Communications. The willingness of the regulator to cut through some legal uncertainties in order to resolve the numbering issue will enable us to resume regular full-scale operations."
VimpelCom is a leading provider of telecommunications services in Russia, operating under the "Bee Line GSM" brand. The VimpelCom Group's license portfolio covers approximately 94% of Russia's population (136 million people), including the City of Moscow, the Moscow Region and the City of St. Petersburg. VimpelCom was the first Russian company to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). VimpelCom's ADSs are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "VIP".
This Form 6-K contains "forward-looking statements", as the phrase is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements are based on Management's best assessment of the Company's strategic and financial position and of future market conditions and trends. These discussions involve risks and uncertainties. The actual outcome may differ materially from these statements as a result of unforeseen developments from competition, governmental regulations of the wireless telecommunications industry, general political uncertainties in Russia and general economic developments in Russia, and other factors. VimpelCom cannot assure investors that the numbering issue has been fully resolved and will not be repeated in the future. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in any forward-looking statements include the risks described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2003 and other public filings made by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which risk factors are incorporated herein by reference. VimpelCom disclaims any obligation to update developments of these risk factors or to announce publicly any revision to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 6-K, or to make corrections to reflect future events or developments.
For more information, please contact:
| 
