OREANDA-NEWS. December 25, 2008. The Office of Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Belgorod Region (the Belgorod OFAS Russia) fined "Oskolneftesnab" CJSC 3 623 723.96 Rubles and "Starooskolskaya Neftebaza" Ltd. 2 849 532 Rubles for engaging on competition-restricting concerted actions, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Earlier the Belgorod OFAS Russia initiated the case against economic entities involved in retail sale of oil products in Stary Oskol ("Oskolneftesnab" CJSC and "Starooskolskaya Neftebaza" Ltd.) for violating Article 11 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" (prohibiting competition-restrictive agreements or concerted actions between economic entities).

Investigating the case, the Commission of the Belgorod OFAS Russia established that in the same period "Oskolneftesnab" CJSC and "Starooskolskaya Neftebaza" Ltd. fixed and maintained retail prices for oil products at the fuel stations in Stary Oskol, regardless the difference in purchase prices. In this connection, the Belgorod OFAS Russia concluded that the companies violated the antimonopoly legislation.

The Belgorod OFAS Russia issued determinations on stopping the actions that contravened the antimonopoly legislation, and fined the companies under Article 14. 32 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Violations.