OREANDA-NEWS. April 28, 2010. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) received information that "Tomsknefteproduct" VNK" OJSC paid 31,787,100 Rubles as a fine for violating the antimonopoly law. The fine was finally paid after more than 2-year efforts of the company to challenge the imposed sanctions through Courts turned out to be to no avail, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

On 19th March 2010, the 7th Arbitration Appeal Court drew a line on the case confirming validity of the fine.

In April 2008, FAS Russia found that "Gazpromneft-Kuzbass" OJSC and "Tomsknefteproduct" VNK" OJSC violated Clause 1 Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" (prohibiting concerted actions on the market). The companies were simultaneously fixing and maintaining retail prices for petrol (grades АI-80, АI-92, АI-95 (АI-96)) and diesel fuel on the Tomsk local market of oil products.

Also FAS Russia discovered that another economic entity involved in retail
sale of oil products on the same market process were fixed at the level different from "Gazpromneft-Kuzbass" OJSC and "Tomsknefteproduct" VNK" OJSC.

Based on its decision, FAS Russia issued determinations to "Gazpromneft-Kuzbass" OJSC and "Tomsknefteproduct" VNK" OJSC to stop the antimonopoly violations. Gazpromneft-Kuzbass" OJSC was fined 25,259,836 Rubles, which the company paid at the end of 2009.

On the antimonopoly cases initiated against oil companies in different regions of Russia in 2008-2009, around 50 decisions of the antimonopoly authority have already taken legal effect. In about 60 cases judicial proceedings have not been finalized yet.

The total amount of fines transferred by the oil companies to the federal budget following the outcome of court hearings exceeds 175 million Rubles.