OREANDA-NEWS. July 26, 2012. The Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Khabarovsk Region (Khabarovsk OFAS Russia) fined “Khabarovskvodtrans” OJSC 881,000 Rubles. The antimonopoly body found that in 2011 “Khabarovskvodtrans” OJSC fixed and applied monopolistically high prices for services at “Pokrovka” and “Khabarovsk” checkpoints on the state border of the Russian Federation, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.     

Khabarovsk OFAS Russia initiated a case against “Khabarovskvodtrans” Integrated Project Management Team upon numerous complaints filed in March, May and August 2011 by Far Eastern Customs Administration of the Federal State Border Agency, the Prosecutor’s Office for the Khabarovsk region, tour operators and physical persons against actions of “Khabarovskvodtrans” Integrated Project Management Team (currently “Khabarovskvodtrans” OJSC).

The Commission of Khabarovsk OFAS Russia concluded that calculating the costs of services at “Pokrovka” and “Khabarovsk” checkpoints, apart expenses for operating regional property required for checkpoint functioning, “Khabarovskvodtrans” Integrated Project Management Team also included the costs of acquiring passenger-carrying vessels (advance payments under financial lease contracts (leasing)), designed to render passenger transportation services and not related to operating border-crossing facilities.

Including these expenses in the costs of services at “Pokrovka” and “Khabarovsk” checkpoints on the state border of the Russian Federation increases the costs of services and infringes the interests of persons crossing the border, which is in breach of Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”.

OFAS imposed an administrative fine upon “Khabarovskvodtrans” OJSC - 143,600 Rubles for committing violations at “Pokrovka” checkpoint and 737,500 Rubles - for committing violations at “Khabarovsk” checkpoint.