OREANDA-NEWS. February 15, 2010. The Arbitration Court of the Saratov region confirmed validity of the decision and determination of the Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Saratov region (OFAS Russia) regarding the Saratov City Authority, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Earlier the Saratov OFAS Russia found that the Saratov City Authority violated Parts 1 and 3 Article 15 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition".

The Saratov City Authority violated the law by assigning functions of a local self-government body to an economic entity - "Ritual" Municipal Unitary Specialized Enterprise, as well as leasing out plots of land with Saratov public cemeteries to "Ritual".

According to its Articles of Association, "Ritual" Municipal Unitary Specialized Enterprise is a commercial organization, aimed at profit acquisition.

Under Article 18 of the Federal Law "On Burial and Funeral Business", local self-government bodies have charge of public cemeteries and determine their operating procedures. The Law does not provide for possibility to transfer public cemeteries under charge of any economic entity, including those that have the status of a specialized service.

The land of public cemeteries cannot be treated as commercial land and be leased out or transferred for economic management because it contravenes government guarantees for providing a free-of-charge burial place for everyone.

"Ritual" Municipal Unitary Specialized Enterprise disagreed with the decision of the Saratov OFAS Russia and filed a claim to the Arbitration Court of the Saratov region on invalidating the decision and determination issued by the antimonopoly body. The court, however, dismissed the claim of "Ritual".