OREANDA-NEWS.  September 05, 2013. The Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Tver region (Tver OFAS Russia) received a confirmation that “Tveroblgaz” OJSC had paid a 6.4 million fine.

Tver OFAS Russia established that “Tveroblgaz” OJSC was issuing technical conditions for supplying gas to residential houses on a commercial (fee) basis although had to issue them free-of-charge. Thus, the company abused its market dominance (Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”).

Having investigated the case, Tver OFAS Russia issued a determination to “Tveroblgaz” OJSC to transfer unlawfully obtained income – over 1.2 million Rubles – to the federal budget. This sum was unlawfully taken from Tver residents for the right to obtain technical conditions. The antimonopoly body also fined the company over 6.4 million Rubles for abusing its dominant position on the market of gas transportation services for consumers.

“Tveroblgaz” OJSC disagreed with the decision of Tver OFAS Russia and filed a lawsuit. The Federal Arbitration Court of the North-Western District drew a line in the case confirming legitimacy of the fine.

“The sum of nearly 6.4 million Rubles is impressive even for such a big company as “Tveroblgaz” OJSC, which once again confirms that observing the law is not only necessary but also advantageous”, commented the Head of Tver OFAS Russia, Vladimir Fomin.