‘UralSvyazInform (the regional mobile and landline operator) has no right to set new tariffs for landline use,’ Chairman of Yekaterinburg Consumer Rights Committee Andrei Artemiev said to UrBC representative. ‘I cannot understand how they can justify the 30%-increase in the cost of the services. Yet, unfortunately, we are only able to take steps only after a particular event has occurred. So, as soon as the company does introduce new tariffs, we are going to respond at once. One thing we are planning to do is place a complaint with the Federal Antimonopoly Service,’ Mr Artemiev said.

‘Digital television is going to be introduced in Sverdlovsk Region soon. One of its unique characteristics is that it is capable of immediately receiving signals with the help of a portable digital set-top box,’ Head of Rossvyaznadzor in Sverdlovsk Region Vladimir Zhernov announced at the press conference. As regards statistics, 50% of the region’s population normally watch no more than six channels. The arrival of digital TV is expected to raise the number of regularly viewed channels and provide a more equal information distribution throughout the city. This is going to work in the

Mega Trade and Entertainment Center hosting IKEA and Auchan received no permission to operate, reports Deputy Mayor of Yekaterinburg Vladimir Kritskiy. According to Mr Kritskiy, this makes it impossible to include approximately 140,000 square meters of the trade center premises into the new office areas list for 2006. However, even without these locations, 500,000 square meters of new offices were introduced in Yekaterinburg in 2006. This is a rather impressive figure.

‘The Russian Federation Ministry of Regional Development is currently considering our claim regarding Noviy Grad, the local developer, Vasiliy Ganzhin, Chairman of Right to a Dwelling, a non-profit organization, said to UrBC representative. ‘Our paper touches upon two main points: illegal use of the co-investors’ money and dishonest construction policies,’ Mr Ganzhin said. ‘I believe this developer’s actions should be looked at by the representatives of the Ministry. In our claim, we have asked for an investigation and subsequent steps regarding Noviy Grad,’ he observed.

Yekaterinburg is not going to get its own TV tower after all, General Director of Regional TV Alexander Mikh announced at today’s press conference. He says the federal authorities who insist on completing the construction of the tower have been trying to impose somewhat unattractive terms on the investors. The latter, for instance, must be prepared to pay 1.5bn RUR in order to get the permission to deal with the project, whereas its whole budget only comes to no more than 300m RUR. Mr Mikh thinks the investors willing to spend a sum like this are highly unlikely to appear, especially since

The Urals’ largest Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo dealer was operating as usual (9 AM to 9 PM) during the winter recess. Even though the winter holiday season is traditionally seen as the time for vacations, the experts of Krasnolesie car center say they get more clients now against the usual days. Their car mechanic’s department has been busier than ever, as many owners of nice expensive cars tend to have their vehicles serviced while they are on holiday, in order to save time. The mechanics have dealt with the increased workload quite successfully; all the cars have been serviced and are now

‘VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation has been trying to implement lean practices (targeted at cutting production costs and making the company’s performance more effective) as well as ISO tips for quite a while now. We’ve got good results in some departments, but you wouldn’t say we’ve been using lean practices to their full potential,’ Effectiveness Enhancement Director of VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation Nikolai Kondratenko said to UrBC representative. ‘We naturally do succeed in some projects; in most cases, however, achieving tangible results requires involving a large number of experts, some of whom yet

ROSNO Insurance Company used its right provided by the general agreement to conduct the independent examination by auditors and consultants in order to estimate the accrued loss incurred by UralTransBank after the insured event, reports Investments and Banks Information Agency. After the meeting of Federal Insurance Surveillance Agency executives devoted to the clash between ROSNO and UralTransBank regarding credit insurance, the agency strongly recommended that the bank allow the insurer to conduct an independent examination of the accrued loss. ROSNO used FBK Company Ltd., an independent

‘As regards the construction process in the would-be Academic district, we currently use most of our resources to set up the engineering services,’ reports project manager Stanislav Pridvishkin. ‘Our workers have already built 3.6 km of the main conduit using fiberglass, today’s most updated material that is guaranteed to last at least 50 years; what is more, the water will be delivered to people’s homes just as clean as it was at the filter plant,’ Mr Pridvishkin said. ‘Even though RENOVA Stroy Group has been managing the project, we have been using external resources as well. The management

A scheduled comprehensive inspection of all the facilities of Pervouralsky Novotrubny Works was conducted by Rostehnadzor, Russia’s state environmental watchdog, in February 2006. Compliance with the environmental norms and requirements was one of the categories under examination. As a result, Rostehnadzor issued 16 orders regarding inaccurate records management. No violations in terms of increased air or water pollution, or dumping waste were found, reports the spokesperson for CHTPZ Group (Chelyabinsk Tube Rolling Plant Group). 18 violations of the environmental legislation requirements