LUKOIL press service is notifying all interested parties that ZAO LUKOIL-Hitech, discussed in Izvestia publication dated April 17, 2006 is not in any way affiliated to the LUKOIL Group.

The said company has no agreements granting it the right to use LUKOIL’s brand in its company name and is not an authorized representative of OAO LUKOIL in Latin America, Africa and CIS.

Therefore, the fact that this information has been placed on the Internet may be viewed as false advertising in accordance with article 9 of the Law of the Russian Federation ‘On advertisement’. Also, in compliance with article 10 of the Law of the Russian Federation ‘On competition and restricting monopoly on commodity markets’ the use of brand name and logo is recognized as an act of unfair competition.

On March 31, 2006 the Company filed a notice of exclusive rights infringement to ZAO LUKOIL-Hitech demanding to cease using OAO LUKOIL brand name and to introduce corresponding changes to the Unified State Register of Legal Entities and to ZAO LUKOIL-Hitech Charter. 

Should these claims be ignored, LUKOIL will initiate procedures in accordance with the civil, administrative and criminal legislation of the Russian Federation to protect its interests.