OREANDA-NEWS. On March 24, 2009 the Head of the Belgorod Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (the Belgorod OFAS Russia) ordered to imposed a 29 150 840 fine upon "Belgorodnefteproduct" OJSC under Article 14.31 of the Code on Administrative Violations. The company violated the law by abusing dominant position on the local goods markets of retail sales of motor petrol and diesel fuel, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Earlier the Belgorod OFAS Russia found that "Belgorodnefteproduct" OJSC violated Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" (abusing dominant position by an economic entity). "Belgorodnefteproduct" OJSC breached the Law by fixing monopolistically high retail prices for petrol and diesel fuel sold through the petrol stations and service stations by the company in the Belgorod region.

Under Article 14.31 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Violations, abusing dominant position is punishable by an administrative fine upon legal entities in the amount of 1 - 15% of the total proceeds gained by the violator from selling goods, on the market where the violation was committed, in the year preceding the year when the violation was discovered, but no more than 2% of the total proceeds from selling all goods.