PRESS RELEASE

Due to the recent deterioration in the financial condition of JSC Astana Finance, further exacerbated by a number of ratings downgrades, Astana Finance and Astana Finance B.V. today announce their decision to suspend payments of interest and principal on their international obligations and, in the case of Astana Finance, to suspend principal payments on certain of its domestic obligations, as of 15 May 2009 in each case. This suspension of payments also affects certain obligations that recently became due and payable as a result of the ratings downgrades.

updated 19.05.2009