FORM 6-K

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Report of Foreign Issuer

May 23, 2006

 

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Commission file number: 333-12032

 

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Russian Federation

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

4, Marksistskaya Street

Moscow 109147

Russian Federation

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

 

 

MTS ANNOUNCES RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF DIVIDENDS

 

MTS PRESS RELEASE. MAY 23, 2006

 

MOSCOW, RUSSIAN FEDERATION – MAY 23, 2006 – MOBILE TELESYSTEMS OJSC (“MTS” - NYSE: MBT), THE LARGEST MOBILE PHONE OPERATOR IN RUSSIA AND THE CIS, ANNOUNCES THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF DIVIDENDS.

 

The MTS Board of Directors (BoD) meeting held on May 18, 2006, recommended the annual general meeting of shareholders (AGM) approve annual dividends of RUR 7.6 per ordinary MTS share (approximately $1.4 per ADR(1)) for the 2005 fiscal year, amounting to a total of RUR 15.15 billion ($561.98 million(2)). If the dividends are approved, MTS, in accordance with Russian tax legislation, will withhold a tax of 9% to 15% on the dividend amount when payable, depending on the recipient’s legal status and jurisdiction.

 

As announced earlier, the record date for the Company’s share- and ADR-holders entitled to participate in the AGM and to receive dividends was set for May 6, 2006. The AGM will be held on June 23, 2006.

 

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For further information, please contact:

 

Mobile TeleSystems, Moscow	tel: +7 495 223 2025
Investor Relations	e-mail: ir@mts.ru

 

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Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS”) is the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company services over 61.77 million subscribers. The regions of Russia, as well as Belarus, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, in which MTS and its associates and subsidiaries are licensed to provide GSM services, have a total population of approximately 233.1 million. Since June 2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional information about MTS can be found on MTS’ website at www.mtsgsm.com.

 

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Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of MTS, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “will,” “could,” “may” or “might,” and the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. We refer you to the documents MTS files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the Company’s most recent Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned “Risk Factors” that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, our competitive environment, dependence on new service development and tariff structures, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, risks associated with telecommunications infrastructure, risks associated with operating in Russia, volatility of stock price, financial risk management and future growth subject to risks.

 

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(1) According to the Russian Central Bank exchange rate of 26.9569 RUR/$ as of May 18, 2006.

(2) The amount is 50% of net income under US GAAP.

 

WWW.MTS.RU

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

	MOBILE TELESYSTEMS OJSC
	By:	Leonid Melamed
		Name:	Leonid Melamed
		Title:	Acting CEO
Date:  May 23, 2006

 

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