Moscow and New York (February 5, 2008) - Open Joint Stock Company “Vimpel-Communications” (“VimpelCom” or the "Company") (NYSE: VIP) today announced that the Board of Directors of the Company has decided unanimously to recommend to the Annual General Shareholders meeting that the Company not pay dividends on its common stock based on 2008 results.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Alexander Izosimov, Chief Executive Officer of VimpelCom, said,

“We continue to adjust our business model to adapt to the current economic situation.  We are focused on generating and preserving cash by optimizing our capital investments and maintaining our margins.  The decision not to pay dividends this year is part of this ongoing cash-focused plan.”

The VimpelCom Group consists of telecommunications operators providing voice and data services through a range of wireless, fixed and broadband technologies. The Group includes companies operating in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and Armenia, as well as in Vietnam and Cambodia. The VimpelCom Group has licenses to operate in territories with a total population of about 340 million. The Group companies provide services under the "Beeline" brand. VimpelCom was the first Russian company to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). VimpelCom's ADRs are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "VIP".

This release contains “forward-looking statements”, as the phrase is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements relate to management’s plans and projections and are based on management’s best assessment of the Company’s strategic and financial position and of future market conditions and trends. These statements involve risks and uncertainties. The actual outcome may differ materially from these statements as a result of continued volatility in the economies in the markets in which the Company operates, unforeseen developments from competition, governmental regulation of the telecommunications industries, general political uncertainties in the markets in which the Company operates and/or litigation with third parties. There can be no assurance that such risk and uncertainties will not have a material adverse effect on the VimpelCom Group. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in any forward-looking statements include the risks described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007 and other public filings made by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which risk factors are incorporated herein by reference. VimpelCom disclaims any obligation to update developments of these risk factors or to announce publicly anyrevision to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this release, or to make corrections to reflect future events or developments.