OREANDA-NEWS. Moscow, Russian Federation - Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS” or the “Company” - NYSE: MBT), the leading telecommunications provider in Russia and the CIS, announces the appointment of Mr. Andrei Smelkov as Vice President for Foreign Subsidiaries, Member of the Executive Board.

Andrei Smelkov, who in his new capacity will oversee MTS's presence in Armenia, Turkmenistan and Belarus, boasts extensive experience in the telecommunications industry in Russia and throughout Central Asia. He joins MTS from Tele2 AB, where he served as Senior Advisor to Executive Vice President, Central Europe and Eurasia. In 2010- 2013, Mr. Smelkov was CEO, Chairman of the Management Board, of Tele2 in Kazakhstan. In 2008-2010, he worked as CEO of Skymobile in Kyrgyzstan. From 2006 to 2008, he served as Regional Development Director and Deputy CEO in Vimpelcom, Uzbekistan. From 2004 to 2007, he was head of Vimpelcom operations in Novgorod. In 2002, he began his career as a marketing and advertising manager of mobile operator Novgorod Telecommunications.

Andrei Smelkov was born in 1976. In 1998, he graduated from the Novgorod State University with a degree in management and economics. In 2000, Mr. Smelkov graduated from the University College in Telemak (Norway) with a degree in economics and business administration. In 2012, he completed executive development program in business administration and management at the Wharton School of Business.