OREANDA-NEWS. February 16, 2012. The Head of FAS Igor Artemyev discussed the issue at the meeting with students and lecturers of St Petersburg State University of Economics and Finances (FINEC), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The Head of FAS gave some background, emphasizing that despite difficulties in 1990s, it was in that time when the basis of competitive economy in Russia was laid.

At the meeting Igor Artemyev discussed the main areas of FAS work, explained such concepts as abusing market dominance, mergers and acquisitions, cartels, suppressing anticompetitive actions of the authorities, antimonopoly regulation in the field of natural monopolies, prohibition of unfair competition.

The Head of FAS stated that 53% of all violations concern the authorities, and every day officers of the antimonopoly bodies impose over 100 fines upon government officials. “Today the heaviest fines are imposed upon large Russian oil companies and their subsidiaries, that have already paid over 600 million dollars to the budget as a result of antimonopoly investigations” said Igor Artemyev.

He emphasized that in 2010-2011 FAS, jointly with the Ministry of Interior, exposed large cartels on the markets of chlorine, power-generating coal, the market of insurance services as well as competitive bidding for supply of medicines. In 2012 seven criminal cases against nation-wide cartels have already been opened under Article 178 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Mr. Artemyev presented a new text-book for universities – “Competition Law in Russia” published in February 2012. “The text-book is designed first of all for young people –future managers, politicians, economists and specialists who will make the future of Russia”, pointed out Igor Artemyev.

Summing up the meeting, the Head of FAS discussed the personnel policy of the Antimonopoly Law, emphasizing that a young FAS officer is guaranteed fast promotion. “The heads of half of the Departments of the Central FAS Office are no older than 35. Yes, they are young, but they have good school under one’s belt”, pointed out the Head of FAS.

Questions raised by FIVEC students and lecturers concerned intellectual property, interaction between FAS and law enforcement agencies, corruption and the law on state procurement.

The meeting was organized by Leningrad OFAS Russia and the Law Faculty of St Petersburg State University of Economics and Finances.