OREANDA-NEWS. September 18, 2012. This statement was made in Kazan by the Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia), Igor Artemyev, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia. 

The plenary session of the international event “Competition Day in Russia” took place at an opening of FAS Training-and-Resource Centre. The session was started by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, and the Head of FAS, Igor Artemyev.

The Head of Russia’s competition authority pointed out that in 2012, when the “third antimonopoly package” came into force, the reform of competition law was completed.

“Today we have built a strong legislative and institutional framework for efficient competition policy in Russia. Moreover, for the first time Russia formed a Government Commission on Competition that will coordinate efforts of the authorities of all levels aimed at developing competition. It shows that FAS has a special role to play in building-up a new economy in Russia”, stated Igor Artemyev.

The Head of FAS said that Russian antimonopoly authority must comply with the best global practices. “The main element of our strategy for the next 12 years is to conform to the elite practices of competition protection. We have completed the preparatory work, now it’s time to move forward - we must equal our practices with the best laws in the world”, emphasized Mr. Artemyev.

Upon the so-called “third antimonopoly package” coming into effect, FAS Russia started developing explanatory work; it introduced and now robustly applies the mechanism of warnings and cautions, intensifying its explanatory work. As of today, 74% of the issued determinations are executed on schedule, without opening an antimonopoly investigation. “For the first time we are happy to state that we have been able to reduce the number of cases against the authorities, and I believe this is the result of the legislative reform”, said Igor Artemyev.

The Head of FAS also talked about intensifying the leniency policy. “It is important to synchronize the leniency programme with the Administrative and Criminal Codes, expand cooperation with foreign competition authorities investigating international cartels, and then we will be able to succeed”, said Mr. Artemyev.