OREANDA-NEWS. May 27, 2013. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) initiated an antimonopoly case against “Rubicon Wireless Communication” Ltd. and a specialized branch of “Uzbektelecom” – “Uzmobile”. It is suspected that these mobile operators, working in the Republic of Kazakhstan, formed a cartel to push their main competitor “Uzdunrobit” Ltd. away from the market, which is the largest mobile operator in Uzbekistan and a member of the group of persons of “MTS” OJSC.

Under Article 3 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”, FAS has powers to investigate cases on anticompetitive agreements concluded outside the Russian Federation but affecting competition on the domestic market of mobile communications services. The Antimonopoly Service thinks that eliminating a subsidiary of “MTS” OJSC from the cell market in the Republic of Uzbekistan could have become a consequence of a cartel agreement, which resulted in reducing the volume of international roaming connection between Uzbekistan and Russia and also violated legitimate rights and interests of the Russian cell operator. Unlawful actions affect competition on the market of mobile communications services in Russia. Also many physical persons – subscribers of “Uzdunrobit” Ltd. suffered since they suddenly were left without communications services.

“The purpose of initiating the case was to protect the interests of Russian business abroad through the measures of antimonopoly regulation. Russian investors must understand that government bodies will undertake all necessary measures to suppress violations against them within their jurisdiction, regardless of the fact in the market on which state the investments are made”, pointed out Stats-Secretary, Deputy Head of FAS Andrey Tsarikovskiy.