OREANDA-NEWS.  March 15, 2013. The Presidium of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) selected 20 best cases investigated by its regional offices in 2012.

“Each case in this ranking is not only a precedent of federal significance, but also improves enforcement practice which positively affects development of competition on the relevant markets. I sincerely hope that our joint efforts will facilitate further reduction of the number of violations of the antimonopoly law”, pointed out the Head of FAS Igor Artemyev.

The first position on rating of 20 best cases took Magadan OFAS Russia with a cartel case. Magadan OFAS Russia exposed concerted actions of “FESKO Lines Vladivostok” Ltd. ООО and “Sakhalin Shipping Company” OJSC that in 2010 fixed the same shipping rates.

The best twenty cases include cases investigated by the following Offices of FAS Russia:

Moscow OFAS Russia - a case regarding “Moscow Metro” State Unitary Enterprise on setting excessive requirements in the auction documentation and a case on collusion of taxi companies servicing “Vnukovo” airport;

St Petersburg OFAS Russia - regarding St Petersburg Government and “St Petersburg Property Fund” OJSC that restricted competition at competitive bidding;

Rostov and Nizhny Novgorod OFAS Russia - regarding “Russian Railways” OJSC that failed to notify buyers of railway tickets about including the costs of insurance policy in the total sum and independently determined the fee for using railway transport infrastructure;

Stavropol OFAS Russia - regarding an unlawful decree issued by the Government of the Stavropol region;

Tyumen OFAS Russia - regarding air carriers - “UTair” Airlines” OJSC and “Yamal” that took turns to increase prices for flying in economy class;

Khabarovsk OFAS Russia - regarding “Vladivostok Avia” which applied a fuel surcharge transporting passengers by regular flights;

Tatarstan OFAS Russia - regarding “TVT” Tele Radio Company” OJSC that was imposing subscribers to pay for prolonging the contract for telecommunications services;

Kamchatka OFAS Russia - regarding “Rosgosstrakh” Ltd. that issued region warrants of witness in the Kamchatka that were already filled in; thus, misleading consumers when selling policies of compulsory civil liability motor-vehicle insurance;

Nizhny Novgorod OFAS Russia - regarding “Russian Railways” OJSC and “FPK” OJSC. The companies abused their market dominance in railway passenger transportation on the Nizhny Novgorod - Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod route;

Khabarovsk OFAS Russia - regarding “Vladivostok Avia” that had a fuel surcharge for transporting passengers by regular flights;

Bashkortostan OFAS Russia - regarding collusion between “Soda” OJSC and “United Trading Company” OJSC;

Orenburg OFAS Russia - regarding “Guild of Roofing Workers” Ltd., “Svetly Dom” Ltd. and “Favorit +” Ltd. The procurement participants concluded an oral agreement aimed at restricting competition in order to win at an electronic auction;

Bryansk OFAS Russia - regarding “Chistaya Planeta” OJSC that prevented entry of special-purpose of other companies to the only waste burial site in Bryansk;

Kurgan OFAS Russia - regarding an individual entrepreneur, who fixed a fee for crossing a bridge by the vehicles over 3.5 tons, although there was no possibility in the region for alternative free passing of vehicles;

Vologda OFAS Russia - regarding “Vologda Sales Company” OJSC that prevented entry of “Kommunenergosbyt” Ltd. to the wholesale market of electric power;

Leningrad OFAS Russia - regarding the Boksitogorsk Town Authority, the Leningrad region, and an individual entrepreneur Yegorov who concluded an unlawful agreement;

Karachaevo-Cherkessia OFAS Russia – regarding “SKB-bank” that was imposing additional services upon its clients;

Khakassia OFAS Russia – regarding “Abakan Heating Networks” that restricted supplies of heating energy.