OREANDA-NEWS. August 24, 2012. The Arbitration Court supported the Moscow Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (Moscow OFAS Russia) on a case on collusion at an electronic auction, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Earlier the Commission of Moscow OFAS Russia established that 8 auction participants had refused to compete for one of the lots for the right to carry out works to repair asphalt covering as well as repair elements of facilities of public road system. However, the companies actively competed for other lots. As a result, the auction was completed after “RSU STROI-Kon” Ltd. had put forward a single bid with minimum reduction of the original price.

OFAS found that “PNK” Ltd., “RSU STROI-Kon” Ltd., “Rus-St” Ltd., “Avtodor KKB Zvenigorod” Ltd., “Delta Stroi” Ltd., “ALIANSTANSSTROI” CJSC, “VETERANI AFGANISTANA” CJSC, “KRISMAR-MM” Ltd., and “PMK Stroi” Ltd. violated the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”.

The collusion participants disagreed with the decision of Moscow OFAS Russia and filed a lawsuit. The Arbitration Court, however, dismissed the claim.

The case file is forwarded to the law enforcement bodies to initiate a case under Article 178 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (preventing, restricting or eliminating competition).

Reference:

This is the first case of Moscow OFAS Russia on prohibited agreement at an electronic auction.