Ekaterinburg - February 17, 2005 - Uralsvyazinform (RTS and MICEX: URSI/URSIP) the leading carrier of fixed-line and mobile services in Urals region reports on the forthcoming extraordinary general meeting of shareholders to be held via absentee vote

On February 11, 2005 the Board of Directors approved the decision to hold the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders in the form of absentee voting in connection with the proposed agenda.
The Meeting will consider the following resolutions:

1) To reorganize OAO "Uralsvyazinform" in form of consolidation of

• ZAO "Ermak RMS";
• OOO "South Urals Cellular Phone";
• OOO "TyumenRusCom";
• OOO "Uralcom"
• ZAO "VSNET"

2) and to approve

• The merger agreement between OAO "Uralsvyazinform" and ZAO "Ermak RMS";
• The merger agreement between OAO "Uralsvyazinform" and OOO "South Urals Cellular Phone";
• The merger agreement between OAO "Uralsvyazinform" and OOO "TyumenRusCom";
• The merger agreement between OAO "Uralsvyazinform" and OOO "Uralcom";
• The merger agreement between OAO "Uralsvyazinform" and ZAO "VSNET".

The record date (the date of compiling the list of persons entitled to participate in the vote) has been fixed as February 13, 2005.
The resolutions provided by the shareholders and their authorized proxies shall be accepted until March 31, 2005.

The filled in voting papers should be posted to the following addresses:

• 11 Moscovskaya Street, entrance 4, Ekaterinburg, Russia, 620014;
• 134 b Lunacharsky Street, Ekaterinburg, Russia, 620110;
• 68 Lenin Street, Perm, Russia, 614096;
• 44 Gogol Street, Kurgan, Russia, 640000;
• 40 Republic Street, building 1, Tyumen, Russia, 625000;
• 161 Kirova Street, Chelyabinsk, Russia, 454000;
• 3 Kominterna Street, Khanty-Mensiysk, Russia, 628011;
• 2 Matrosova Street, Salekhard, Russia, 629008;
• 48 Nikoloyamskaya Street, building 2, Moscow, Russia, 109004.

According to the Board's decision the holders of preferred shares type A along with the holders of common shares of Uralsvyazinform are eligible to vote on the agenda.
The materials to be submitted to the shareholders before General Meeting can be viewed in company offices and divisions or on corporate site www.uralsviazinform.com.

As it was mentioned before, the actions on the mobile and data transmission business consolidation are a part of the strategic program approved by the Board of Directors and aimed to push the company's manageability and economic efficiency through the unified purchase, marketing and sales policies.

Anatoly Ufimkin, CEO noted that "Uralsvyazinform has developed as a versatile info-communications company offering both fixed-line and mobile services. The versatility of the kind let us stand firmly on our feet and benefit from the synergies which bundled services offer."

At the moment Uralsvyazinform is the sole shareholder (participant) in the companies being consolidated.

For additional information, please contact IR department on tel. (007 343) 379-12-17 or e-mail: investor@gd.usi.ru.

The most recent company information is also available at www.uralsviazinform.com or URSI_RU page in Bloomberg system.

Relevant news:
January 24, 2005 Uralsvyazinform to consolidate data transmission businesses

January 20, 2005 Uralsvyazinform enters a new phase of mobile business consolidation