Moscow, November 22, 2005: Rostelecom (NYSE: ROS; RTS, MICEX: RTKM, RTKMP), Russia’s national long-distance telecommunications operator, today announced financial results for the first half of 2005 in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS):

•  Consolidated revenue for first half 2005 increased by 9.7% to RUR 19,652.0 million¹;
•  Domestic long-distance traffic grew 6.6% compared to first half 2004;
•  International outgoing traffic grew 9.5% while international incoming traffic grew 11.7%² in the first six months 2005;
•  First half 2005 OIBDA³ amounted to RUR 7,152.0 million, an increase of 9.3% year-on-year;
•  Operating profit increased 11.4% year-on-year;
•  Net income increased 17.0% compared to first half 2004 to RUR 2,820.0 million, while net margin rose to 14.3%.

Rostelecom's CEO Dmitry Yerokhin commented: “Rostelecom's solid top-line growth in the first half of 2005 underscores our strengthened position in the Russian operators' market and our growing success in developing and promoting new business services. Our operating income also increased thanks to these positive trends, which further contributed to Rostelecom's excellent financial position. We continue to improve productivity and invest in our network infrastructure to support our objectives for enhancing Rostelecom's competitiveness, entering new markets and accelerating the growth of new services .”

Consolidated revenue for the first half of 2005 increased by 9.7% to RUR 19,652.0 million. Active cooperation with operators in the Russian and international markets succeeded in strengthening Rostelecom's competitive position, which also benefited from healthy traffic growth in the dynamic Russian telecoms market. Domestic long-distance traffic rose 6.6% year-on-year while outgoing international traffic increased 9.5% and incoming international traffic was up 11.7% compared to the first half 2004. Top-line growth was also driven by increased sales of leased lines and equipment services and Rostelecom's successful development and promotion of new offerings such as intelligent network services. As a result, revenue from other operations surged by 33.5% to RUR 4,189 million in the first half of 2005.

The Company's operating profit increased by 11.4% to RUR 3,141.0 million and operating margin grew slightly to 16.0%. OIBDA increased 9.3% year-on-year to RUR 7,152.0 million, while the OIBDA margin held steady at 36.4%. Operating costs increased slightly less than revenues, rising 9.3% compared to first half 2004 due to significant increases in wages and salaries and higher payments to operators, partly offset by efficiency measures, including business process optimization and further headcount reduction of 7%.

In the first half of 2005, the Company sold its interests in Telmos, Telecom-Center and MTT. These transactions resulted in a financial gain of RUR 193.0 million, recorded in “Income from sale of investments” in the consolidated statement of income for the first six months of 2005.

Consolidated net income for the first half 2005 totaled RUR 2,820.0 million – a year-on-year increase of 17.0%.

Domestic Long-Distance (DLD) Services to Russian Subscribers and Operators

Rostelecom Maintains Leading Position in the Regional Market, Stable Traffic and Revenue Growth from Russian Operators Continues

DLD revenues for first half 2005 amounted to RUR 9,010.0 million, a year-on-year increase of 6.6%. DLD traffic from Russian operators and subscribers grew by 6.6% to 4,711.7 million minutes.

DLD traffic from Russian operators rose 8.5% to 4,070.3 million minutes. First half 2005 revenues from Russian operators for DLD traffic transit increased 9.7% over the same period last year to RUR 7,161.0 million. The growth in traffic and revenues is a result of the Company's active efforts to strengthen its position in the Russian operators' market.

DLD revenues from Moscow subscribers decreased 3.9% compared to the first six months 2004 to RUR 1,849.0 million. DLD traffic from Moscow subscribers amounted to 641.5 million minutes – down 4.0% year on year due to strong competitive pressure.

International Long Distance (ILD) Services to Russian Subscribers and Operators

Effective Cooperation with Alternative Operators Bolsters Outgoing International Traffic Growth

ILD revenues from Russian operators and subscribers for the first six months of 2005 totaled RUR 4,443.0 million - a year-on-year increase of 1.4%. Outgoing ILD traffic grew by 9.5% to 802.8 million minutes.

Outgoing ILD traffic from Russian operators for first half 2005 grew 14.8% to 663.1 million minutes. First half 2005 revenues from Russian operators for ILD traffic transit amounted to RUR 3,126.0 million, a year-on-year increase of 7.1%. Rostelecom's successful cooperation with alternative operators contributed strongly to these positive traffic and revenue dynamics.

First half 2005 ILD traffic from Moscow subscribers declined by 10.2% year-on-year to 139.7 million minutes due to intense competition while ILD revenues from subscribers were down 9.8%, totaling RUR 1,317.0 million.

Incoming ILD Traffic Termination Services to International Operators

Further Growth in Incoming International Traffic and Revenues

Active promotion of Rostelecom's services in the international operator's market underpinned further growth in international incoming traffic volumes. Incoming traffic from international operators increased by 11.7% to 781.8 million minutes year on year. First half 2005 revenues from international operators increased 3.1% year on year to RUR 2,010.0 million.

Revenue from other operations

Top-line Growth Surges Thanks to Successful Promotion of New Services

Revenue from other operations surged by 33.5% compared to first half 2004, rising to RUR 4,189.0 million. This is attributable to a sharp increase in demand and revenues from intelligent network services, leased lines and customer equipment servicing.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses for the first six months 2005 amounted to RUR 16,511.0 million. The year-on-year increase of 9.3%, driven by scheduled increases in wages and salaries and higher payments to operators, was slightly lower than the increase in revenues.

Staff costs for the first half 2005 totaled RUR 2,905.0 million, a 33.1% increase compared to last year, due to planned salary increases. This was partly offset by further business processes and organizational structure optimization, which resulted in 7% lower headcount compared to first half 2004. Rostelecom's headcount amounted to 24.0 thousand employees as of June 30, 2005.

Payments to Russian operators increased by 9.4% to RUR 4,146.0 million compared to the first half 2004, while payments to international operators rose by 5.5% to RUR 3,224.0 million due to the growth in domestic and outgoing ILD traffic volumes, respectively.

As a result, OIBDA increased 9.3% year-on-year to RUR 7,152.0 million. The OIBDA margin amounted to 36.4% compared to 36.5% a year ago.

Depreciation charges held steady compared to the first six months 2004, amounting to RUR 3,649.0 million.

Non-cash loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment totaled RUR 362.0 million for the first half 2005 compared to RUR 73.0 million in the same period last year. The increase was due to accelerated decommissioning of analogue lines and other underperforming assets.

First half 2005 operating profit amounted to RUR 3,141.0 million – a 11.4% rise compared to the same period in 2004. Operating margin increased to 16.0%.

Other Income/Loss

Other income for the first six months 2005 amounted to RUR 563.0 million compared to RUR 294.0 million year ago. The increase is due to additional income from the sale of investments as well as higher net interest income.

In the first half of 2005 Rostelecom sold its interests in Telmos, Telecom-Center and MTT. The total gain on these transactions amounted to RUR 193.0 million.

In the first six months of 2005, short-term deposits grew while liabilities decreased substantially compared to the first half of 2004 following a restructuring of Rostelecom's debt. As a result, net interest income surged by 76.5% year-on year to RUR 406.0 million.

Income Tax

The income tax expense amounted to RUR 910.0 million. The 17.1% increase over the first half 2004 is due to the growth in income before taxation.

Consolidation

irst half 2005 consolidated financial statements include results of operations of Rostelecom and its subsidiaries Westelcom and GlobalTel. The results of operations of GlobalTel were consolidated in the Company's financial statements prospectively beginning from April 25, 2005. The results of GlobalTel operations were included under the equity method in the Company's first half 2004 consolidated financial statements.

Net profit

Rostelecom's consolidated net profit increased by 17.0% to RUR 2,820.0 million in the first half 2005.

Net margin rose from 13.5% to 14.3%.

Rostelecom will host a webcast of the first half 2005 results conference call on November 22, 2005 beginning at 9 AM (Eastern US) / 2 PM (London) / 5 PM (Moscow). The webcast will be available both live, and for replay purposes, on the Investor Center of Rostelecom's website at www.rt.ru/en/icenter.

Appendices:

1.  Consolidated profit and loss statements for the first six months ended June 30, 2004 and June 30, 2005 in RUR;
2.  Condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2004 and June 30, 2005 in RUR.

¹ In order to ensure objectivity of Rostelecom’s performance all absolute figures in the profit and loss statements and the balance sheets, included in the text of the press release as well as Appendices I and II, are stated in Russian rubles (RUR).

² This press release contains verified domestic and international long-distance traffic data for the first six months 2005 and incoming international traffic data for the first six months 2004.

³ OIBDA is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, which the Company defines as operating income before depreciation, amortization and loss on disposal of PP&E. We believe that OIBDA provides useful information to investors because it is an indicator of the strength and performance of our business operations, including our ability to finance capital expenditures, acquisitions and other investments and our ability to incur and service debt. OIBDA should not be considered in isolation as an alternative to net income, operating income or any other measure of performance under U.S. GAAP.