OREANDA-NEWS. November 07, 2008. The Commission of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) recognized that "Lukoil" OJSC violated Clause 1 Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition", reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The Antimonopoly Service found that in summer 2008 "Lukoil" OJSC had abused dominant position on the wholesale market for oil products market by fixing monopolistically high prices for motor petrol, diesel fuel, aviation kerosene and fuel oil.

"The FAS Russia's Commission did not find it a coincidence "Lukoil" OJSC increased it fuel prices at the period of the highest demand. The actions of the oil company resulted in social tension and created problems in the Russian economy", said Pavel Subbotin, Deputy Head of FAS Russia, the Chairman of the Commission for Antimonopoly Cases.

Making its decision, the FAS Russia's Commission also noted inactive position of the oil company towards reducing fuel prices.

Earlier FAS Russia initiated cases against five largest players on the oil market - "Gazpromneft", TNK-BP, "Posneft" Oil Company, "Surgutneftegaz" and "LUKOIL" Oil Company. The case against "Surgutneftegaz" was closed as the company's dominant position on the Russian market had not been proved. On 26th September 2008, the Federal Antimonopoly Service found that the actions of "Gazpromneft" and "TNK-BP Holding" violated Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition".

Following its decision, FAS Russia will issue a determination to the oil company with the instructions for specific actions to be executed by the company in order to stop the violations and eliminate their consequences.

Proved violation of Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" constitutes the grounds for imposing a fine under Article 14.31 of the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation - from one hundredth to fifteen hundredth if the net sales of the goods (works, services) by the violators on the market where the violation occurred.