OREANDA-NEWS. May 11, 2011. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) initiated a case against the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation upon the signs of violating Parts 1 and 3 Article of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The case was initiated upon petitions of economic entities that “Okhrana” Federal State Unitary Enterprise of the Ministry of Internal Affairs violated the antimonopoly law.

“Okhrana” is subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and was formed under No.66 Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation “Issues of Reforming Extra-Departmental Security at the Internal Affair Bodies in the Russian Federation” of 11th February 2005 on the basis of paramilitary and guard extra-departmental security units at the Internal Affair Bodies in the Russian Federation, exercising the functions for design, assembly, operation and maintenance of technical security equipment.

FAS Russia is of the opinion that the Decree did not authorise “Okhrana” Federal State Unitary Enterprise of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to perform the functions to guard the facilities subject to state security guard services. Under the law, the function to protect facilities subject to state security guard services is assigned to the Ministry of Interior (extra-departmental security).

By specifying in the Statutes of “Okhrana” Federal State Unitary Enterprise the right to guard facilities, the Ministry of Interior assigned the functions and the rights of a power body to the economic entity.

In the FAS Russia’s opinion, such actions of the Russian Ministry of Interior violate the antimonopoly law.

The case will be considered on 5th July 2011.