OREANDA-NEWS. November 07, 2008. The Commission of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) pronounced that "Rosneft" Oil Company" OJSC violated Clauses 1,6 and 8 Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition", reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

"Rosneft" violated the law by fixing and maintaining monopolistically high prices for motor petrol, diesel fuel, aviation kerosene and fuel oil, as well as creating discriminatory conditions and setting different, economically and technologically unjustified prices for the same goods.

"The FAS Russia's Commission took into account учла special status of the "Rosneft" oil company - higher share of state participation in the company's equity as well as the company's chartered aim to make maximum profit. The Commission was of the opinion that desire to gain maximum profit must be in proportion to the state of the national economy.

Therefore, the Commission concluded that the oil company is guilty of fixing monopolistic prices and creating discriminatory conditions", 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". On 27th October it was also pronounced that "Lukoil" OJSC violated the antimonopoly legislation.

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.