OREANDA-NEWS. December 24, 2010. Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS” – NYSE: MBT), the leading telecommunications provider in Russia and the CIS, announces that it received a notice from the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan informing the Company of a decision to suspend licenses held by Barash Communications Technologies, Inc. (“BCTI”), MTS’ wholly-owned subsidiary in Turkmenistan, for a period of one month starting from December 21, 2010. MTS has been operating in Turkmenistan under a trilateral agreement1 (“Agreement”) signed in November 2005 by BCTI, MTS and the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan, which expires on December 21, 2010, unless extended pursuant to its terms and conditions. The Company at all times had reasons to believe that the Agreement would be extended and had approached the Ministry of Communications within the required timeframe to formalize the extension. However, the Ministry of Communications failed to grant the extension in accordance with the terms of the Agreement.

MTS management is taking active steps to clarify the situation but no explanation, including in relation to the alleged breaches by MTS has been given by either the Government of Turkmenistan or its Ministry of Communications. The Company is currently considering all available options, including potential legal actions, and shall vigorously defend its legal rights and investment interests.

In any event, it is the Company’s opinion that the expiration of the Agreement does not preclude MTS from continuing its operations in Turkmenistan nor can any alleged termination of the Agreement serve as the basis for suspension of BCTI’s licenses, and that the notice must have been given as a result of misinterpretation of local laws and regulations by the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan. The Company has already approached the Ministry of Communications and will be making every effort to resolve the situation.

For the nine months of 2010, BCTI contributed to the MTS Group revenue and OIBDA of 1.9% and 2.7% respectively.