July 22. Fitch has assigned its B+ long-term issuer default rating (IDR) to Tattelecom with a positive outlook, the rating agency said in a press-release. Additionally, Fitch has assigned the company the short-term B rating and the senior unsecured B+ rating. These ratings reflect Tattelecom's current debt structure, which shows a substantial dominance of short-term debt and negative free cash flow due to growth in capital investments in 2006-2007. Additionally, the ratings reflect the influence of Tattelecom's parent company, Svyazinvestneftekhim, controlled by the government of Tatarstan, on the decision-making process in Tattelecom, as well as lobbying the company's interests on the part of Svyazinvestneftekhim. The ratings also reflect the company's dominant stable market position in its operating area in the Republic of Tatarstan (BBB- with a positive outlook).