Kemerovo OFAS Russia lawfully fined “Gazpromneft-Kuzbass” CJSC

Earlier three court instances supported position of the antimonopoly body that actions of “Gazpromneft-Kuzbass” CJSC, “Barrel” Ltd. and “Kompania Tsentr” Ltd. were engaged in concerted actions for fixing the same prices for petrol and diesel fuel in Kemerovo.
Kemerovo OFAS Russia found that “Gazpromneft-Kuzbass” CJSC violated Clause 1 Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”, administrative sanctions for which are imposed under Article 14.32 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Violations.
In October 2009, Kemerovo OFAS Russia initiated an administrative case against “Gazpromneft-Kuzbass” CJSC. Having investigated the case, on 24th November 2009 the antimonopoly body found that from 1st July 2008 to 20th May 2009 “Gazpromneft-Kuzbass” CJSC was exercising concerted actions with “Barrel” Ltd. and “Kompania Tsentr” Ltd. on retail market of petrochemicals within the geographic boundaries of an urban district (“the city of Kemerovo), which led to fixing (maintaining) the same prices for motor petrol and diesel fuel.
“This is the first step towards our goal that prices for petrochemicals in the Kemerovo region are formed through free competition”, believes the Head of Kemerovo OFAS Russia Natalia Koukharskaya.