OREANDA-NEWS. April 09, 2012. Perm Regional Arbitration Court confirmed: a cartel for dividing the market of evacuating the deceased is unlawful. The Court dismissed the claim of “Sodeistvie” Perm Funeral House” Ltd. to reverse the decision and determination of the Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Perm Region (Perm OFAS Russia), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.  

In 2011, Perm OFAS Russia found that several companies providing ceremonial services violated the antimonopoly law.

“Sodeistvie” Perm Funeral House” Ltd., “Rekviem” Ceremonial Services Agency and “Status” Salon of Ceremonial and Funeral Services concluded an agreement, the purpose of which was to obtain information from the police about the deceased. Upon receiving such information, “Sodeistvie” Perm Funeral House” Ltd. kept for itself some orders for transporting the bodies of the deceased for forensic medical examinations, and distributed the remaining ones among other participants of the agreement. It was in breach of Article 16 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”.

The latent character of the agreement resulted in restricting competition, dividing the market under a geographical principle, and restricting entry of other economic entities to the market.

The initiator of the unlawful scheme - “Sodeistvie” Perm Funeral House” Ltd. - was issued a determination to transfer the unlawfully obtained income - 455,400 Rubles - to the federal budget.

“Other cartel participants can be imposed turnover fines. Also OFAS is looking into holding administratively liable the executives that violated the law. A possible sanction may be disqualification”, explained the Head of Perm OFAS Russia, Dmitry Makhonin.