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MOSCOW, Russia (February 6, 2004).
Golden Telecom, Inc. (NASDAQ: GLDN),
a leading independent telecommunications operator in Russia, today announced that
Michael ?upa has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Golden
Telecom, Inc., replacing Stan Abbeloos.
Michael ?upa joins Golden Telecom from Contactel, a Czech alternative operator,
where he has been Chief Executive Officer since 1999. Prior to that, he worked at
? esky Telecom from 1992 to 1999, starting as Section Head of Strategy and Policy,
then Director of Network Development, then Chief Operating Officer and finally
Executive Vice President for Networks and Value Added Services. Mr ?upa has an
MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in Barcelona,
Spain, a Master of Business Telecommunications from the Delft University of
Technology in the Netherlands, and an MSc. in Telecommunications Technology
from the Czech Technical University in Prague.
Alexander Vinogradov, President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Telecom,
Inc. commented: .We are delighted to welcome a senior executive of Michael ?upa.s
caliber. He is well known in the industry and is a great addition to the team. This is an
exciting time for Golden Telecom . we will start to integrate Comincom and
Combellga in 2004, and our regional expansion continues apace. Mr ?upa.s unique
experience makes him a valuable player as we pursue these exciting opportunities..
Michael ?upa added: .Golden Telecom has a superb reputation both inside and
outside Russia, and I was delighted when Mr. Vinogradov invited me to join the team.
The company has spent over a decade building a world class network and service
team, which will be an excellent platform for future growth..
Mr Abbeloos has served as the company.s COO since it went public in 1999,
overseeing the construction of the largest alternative telecommunications network in
Russia, as well as the acquisition of Sovintel in 200 1-2, and of Comincom-Combellga
in 2003.
Alexander Vinogradov, President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Telecom,
Inc. commented: .Stan has been a good friend and key colleague for many years, and
I am very sorry to see him leave. He has done sterling work for the company during
his time here, and we wish him well in the future..
Stan Abbeloos replied: .My eight years with Golden Telecom have been happy ones,
and I am proud of the work that we have done, and the team that we have assembled.
With the merger of Sovintel and TeleRoss complete, and the integration of Comincom
and Combellga about to start, it makes sense for me to step back and pursue other
opportunities in Russia. I would like to thank Alexander Vinogradov and my other
colleagues at Golden Telecom for their companionship and collaboration over the
years..
About Golden Telecom (www.goldentelecom.com)
Golden Telecom, Inc. (NASDAQ: .GLDN.) is a leading facilities-based alternative
provider of integrated telecommunications and Internet services in major cities of
Russia and other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The
Company offers voice, data and internet services to corporations, operators and
individual customers using its overlay networks in Moscow, Kiev, St. Petersburg,
Nizhny Novgorod, and Krasnoyarsk and via inter-city fiber-optic and satellite-based
networks, including 150 combined access points in Russia and other CIS countries.
The Company provides mobile services in Kiev and Odessa .
For additional information please apply to:
Public relations:
Anna Chin Go Pin
e-mail: achin@gldn.net
tel.: +7-50 1-797-9300;
fax: +7-50 1-797-9332
Investor relations:
Tom Adshead
e-mail: tadshead@gldn.net
tel.: +7-50 1-797-9300;
fax: +7-50 1-797-9331
www.goldentelecom.com
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