COURT OF APPEAL FINALLY CONFIRMED THE RIGHTS OF "VIMPELCOM" FOR BEELINE BRAND IN ARMENIA

Mediamax
Feb 22, 2008

Yerevan, February 22 /Mediamax/. Court of Appeal finally confirmed
the rights of "VimpelCom" Company for "Beeline" brand in Armenia.

Mediamax reports referring RBC Daily newspaper that the leading
Public Relations Manager of "VimpelCom" Artem Minayev stated that in
mid-January the Court of Appeal of Armenia turned down the complaint of
the Intellectual Property Agency concerning the issue of "VimpelCom"
right for "Beeline" brand, this decision is final and is not subject
to appeal.

"We are dealing with the issue of gaining the right for using "Beeline"
brand in Armenia in the category "Communication".

At present, we are in the process of receiving confirmation of
international registrations of our trade marks in the territory of
Armenia", Artem Minayev stated.

"The news is undoubtedly positive for "VimpelCom"", Director of
the Analytical Department of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein Yuli
Matevosov believes.

""ArmenTel" brand had certain negative coloring – at the point
of purchase of the company, "VimpelCom" operator was losing
subscribers. The re-branding will help "VimpelCom" to get rid of the
given negative effect", the analyst believes.