Moscow, February 26, 2004 - The grand ceremony of awarding the laureates of the Person of the Year -2002 national award was held in the Kremlin on February 25, 2004. The winners were chosen by an Expert Council, consisting of well-known public figures, government officials, top executives of Russian companies and representatives of the media. The winners of the Grand-Prix were decorated with the Glory of Russia order, which is included in the State Register of Public Awards of the Russian Federation.

The organizer of the Person of the Year award is the Russian Information Agency RosBusinessConsulting (RTS: RBCI; MICEX: RU14RBCI4001). The aim of this project is to assist Russia's integration into the global informational and economic community, promote consolidation between Russia's civil society, business community and the government, as well as to attract public attention to persons who determine the nation's development.

The winners are:

GRAND-PRIX for personal contribution in the development of the Russian democracy - Alexander Veshnyakov, Chairman of the Russian Central Election Commission

GRAND-PRIX for professionalism and innovations in development of oil-product transportation in Russia - Sergey Maslov, President of AK Transnefteprodukt OJSC

GRAND-PRIX for personal contribution in the development of the Russian political system - Alexander Tkachyov, Governor of the Krasnodar region

In politics and social life:

Person in politics	Alexey Kudrin Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Russian Finance Minister	For efficient work in reducing Russia's foreign debt and policy of increasing gold and currency reserves
Person in state governance	Sergey YastrzhembskyRussian Presidential Aide	For contribution in improving the image of Russia and peacekeeping activities
Regional leader	Yury LuzhkovMoscow Mayor	For high efficiency in governing a region and success in implementing the economic potential of the capital of Russia
Person in culture	Anatoly IksanovGeneral Director of the Bolshoi Theater	For innovative approaches to management in culture
Person in science	Vitaly Ginzburgmember of the Russian Academy of Sciences, winner of the Nobel Prize	For fundamental contributions to world science
Career of the year	Vladimir YakovlevRussian Deputy Prime Minister	For professional achievements and management potential
Head of a public organization	Alexander BorisovGeneral Director of the Moscow International Business Association	For contribution to enhancing a positive image of the Russian business community
Person in the mass media	Nikita Kirichenkojournalist	For contribution in the development of business journalism in Russia (posthumously)

In business:

Businessman of the year	Alexey MillerGazprom CEO	For contribution to the development of the energy industry
	Lev KhasisChairman of the Board of Directors of Perekriostok Trading House	For implementation of up-to-date principles of corporate governance, enhancing transparency and investment attractiveness of a company
Entrepreneur	Alexey DobashinGeneral Director of the Krost concern	For creating a unique system of industrial, construction and servicing enterprises, implementation of up-to-date human-oriented project
Top manager	Marat AinetdinovGeneral Director of the Rossiya insurance company	For efficient corporate governance, creation of a popular brand and improvement of insurance culture of the public
	Valery OkulovGeneral Director of Aeroflot - Russian Airlines	For outstanding achievements in providing competitiveness of the company on the world market
Financier of the year	Alexander PopovROSBANK CEO	For the implementation of large-scale projects and development of long-term financial policies of a bank for exploring regional and international markets
Investment banker	Ruben VardanyanPresident of Troika Dialog	For outstanding contribution in the development of the Russian stock market and investment and banking business in Russia
Enterprise head	Oleg TinkovChairman of the Board of Directors of the Tinkoff company	For creating a unique product - Russia's first beer of the ultrapremium class
Head of small or medium business	Grigory GurevichPresident of the Nobel Oil oil company	For highly professional organization of production processes and strengthening positions of medium businesses in Russia
Head of retail business	Yevgheny ChichvarkinManager of Euroset	For establishment and efficient management of a retail chain
Head of socially important enterprise	Vladimir BusyginGeneral Director of Nizhnekamskneftekhim JSC	For successful implementation of social programs
Head of the most dynamically developing business	Alexey GolubkovCEO of Sudostroitelniy bank	For efficient management and introduction of hi-tech in the sphere of banking services

Special awards:

Business reputation	Ivan SergeyevChief of the Main Production and Commercial Department for Servicing Diplomatic Corps of the Russian Foreign Ministry	For outstanding achievements in production, diplomatic, public and charity activities
Opening of the year	Alexander KandelGeneral Director of the ATON investment group	For high efficiency in corporate management and reinforcing a group's position on financial markets of Russia and worldwide
Introduction of social responsibility in business	Konstantin ZolotukhinGeneral Director of SpetsVysotStroy	For playing an active role in social, economic and city planning development of Russia
Development of legislative base in intergovernmental relations	Viktor BalalaJustice Minister of Transnistria	For efficient legislative activities in the process of settling relations between Russia, Moldova and Transnistria
Adherence to journalistic traditions	Veronika Borovik-KhilchevskayaPresident and Owner of the Sovershenno Sekretno group	For supporting independent journalism in Russia
Contribution to the revival of the best traditions in raising a young generation of Russia	Dmitry BakatinGeneral Director of Sputnik Group, Vice President of a Charity Foundation for Russian Cadet Corps	For providing financial support to Russian Cadet Corps and reviving the best military and patriotic traditions in raising a young generation of Russians
Contribution to the development of the industryFuel and energy	Farkhad AkhmedovPresident of Northgas	For the successful attraction of private investments and high professionalism in managing a company
Contribution to the development of the industryConstruction	Timur TimerbulatovPresident of the KONTI group	For the implementation of large-scale construction projects in Russian regions and promotion of new mortgage crediting programs
Contribution to the development of the industryTelecommunications	Gennady SklyarGeneral Director of the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network enterprise	For the establishment of a common information area in the country and the usage of innovative technologies
Contribution to the development of the industryHealthcare	Vladimir KovalskyPresident of the Masterdent dental office chain	For the establishment of a major private dental office chain
Contribution to the development of the industryAgroindustrial complex	Alexey KobtsevGeneral Director of the Rusagrocapital agroindustrial holding	For high professionalism in managing the number one agroindustrial holding of Russia

Investor contact: Natalia Makeeva
Tel: +7 (095) 363-1111 (ext. 1369), e-mail: ir@rbc.ru, Web: www.rbcinfosystems.com.