OREANDA-NEWS  On 20 February was announced, that the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) initiated a case against the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Natural Disaster Relief (MChS Russia) for violating Part 1 Article 15 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition". FAS Russia also initiated a case against MChS Russia and "Centre for Search-and-Rescue and Environmental Operations" OJSC for violating Article 16 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition".

FAS Russia's Cartel Department have established that officials of MChS Russia are providing assistance to a commercial organization - "Centre for Search-and-Rescue and Environmental Operations" OJSC in its services for liquidation (localization) of accidental spillage of oil and oil products. In particular, pursuing the interests of "Centre for Search-and-Rescue and Environmental Operations" OJSC, MChS Russia limits certification of the search-and-rescue units at the local, regional and federal levels; pressurizes economic entities in the oil-and-gas industry to sign contracts with "Centre for Search-and-Rescue and Environmental Operations" OJSC; and helps developing regional units of the "Centre".

Acts and actions (lack of actions) of MChS Russia, as well as concerted actions between the officials of MChS Russia and "Centre for Search-and-Rescue and Environmental Operations" OJSC have resulted in restricting and eliminating competition in the services for liquidation (localization) of accidental spillage of oil and oil products, which violates Part 1 Article 15 and Article 16 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition".

Article 15 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" forbids competition-restrictive acts and actions (lack of actions) of the federal executive bodies, the authorities of the constituent territories of the Russian Federation, local self-government bodies, and other осуществляющих функции указанных bodies or organization which exercise their functions, as well as state extra-budgetary funds and the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.

Article 16 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" forbids competition-restrictive agreements or concerted actions of the federal executive bodies, the authorities of the constituent territories of the Russian Federation, local self-government bodies, and other bodies or organization which exercise their functions, as well as state extra-budgetary funds and the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.