OREANDA-NEWS. April 14, 2008. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) recognized that "Gazpromneft-Kuzbass" CJSC and "Tomsknefteproduct" VNK" OJSC violated Clause 1 Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition". The companies violated the law by exercising concerted actions aimed at fixing and maintaining prices on the retail market of oil products in Toms, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The case against the companies was initiated upon the findings of the data analysis of the weekly monitoring of retail prices on oil products, carried out in execution of a FAS Russia order.

Based on the findings, and in course of the case consideration, the Antimonopoly Service established that "Gazpromneft-Kuzbass" CJSC and "Tomsknefteproduct" VNK" OJSC were simultaneously fixing and maintaining the same level of retail prices for А-76, А-92 and А-95 petrol and diesel fuel, as well as increased their price by the same amount in coordinated fashion from January 2007 to January 2008. At the same time, for the same oil products the prices of other economic entities, involved in retail of oil products, were different from those set by "Gazpromneft-Kuzbass" CJSC and "Tomsknefteproduct" VNK" OJSC.

FAS Russia recognized that both companies violated the antimonopoly legislation and issued determinations to eliminate the revealed violations. FAS Russia requested that the companies should notify the regional office of FAS Russia in advance on any price changes for the oil products with economic justification of such changes.

Under Article 14.32 of the Code of Administrative Violations, concerted actions are punishable by a turnover fine 1 - 15% of the company proceeds on the market where the violation occurred.