The Moscow University of Economics (MESI) was the first university in Russia to become involved in distance education. MESI proposed that an experiment be conducted in Russia in the field of distance education to evaluate its potential. This article discusses the answers that were obtained to a number of the questions that were posed. The objectives of the MESI experiment included a task related to the practical testing of different technologies of distance education, and the determination of the methods necessary to create a new generation of teaching and methodology support that would meet the requirements of e-education and Web training. This article also cites some of the influences made by the introduction of open education on the overall situation in Russia.