“In 2008 total amount of penalties for cartels exceeded results of 2007 in 359 times”, - told Mr. Andrey Tsarikovsky, the Stats-Secretary - Deputy Head of Federal antimonopoly service (FAS Russia) at the BRIC International Competition Conference in Kazan (Republic Tatarstan) on September 1, 2009.
In his report «The system of combating cartels in Russia», Andrey Tsarikovsky has informed participants and guests of the Conference on the basic legislative initiatives of the agency aimed at intensification of anti-cartel activity.
He has noted in his report that «the problem of cartels took, and will take one of the central places in antimonopoly regulation. Only in 2008 FAS Russia instituted 358 proceedings on cartels, it twice is large than in 2007».
«In this regard adopting and entering into force in October of this year of the amendments into the Criminal Code, stipulating criminal responsibility for anticompetitive actions - price arrangements and multiple abusing of dominant position- is more than ever actual», - underlined Andrey Tsarikovsky.
«Amount of fines imposed for cartels is also demonstrative. It is more than 1,5 billion rubles. Thus, in 2008 total amount of penalties for cartels exceeded results of 2007 in 359 times », - the Deputy Head of FAS Russia told.
Telling about application of the leniency program, Andrey Tsarikovsky has noted that the companies, which voluntary declared to FAS Russia on participation in anticompetitive agreements and ceased further participation in them, have a possibility to escape punishment.
As an example he mentioned the case against the LLC "Kurskoblnefteproduct" and the LLC "Alexia" on fixing retail prices for petrol and diesel fuel. The LLC "Kurskoblnefteproduct" was fined approximately on 3 million rubles, and the LLC "Alexia" applied for leniency and gained immunity.
In the end of his report the Deputy Head of the FAS Russia noted: «Strengthening of interaction with law-enforcement and judicial bodies, competition advocacy and development of the international cooperation are necessary for development of anti-cartel system. I strongly believe that the given measures will be very useful for development of healthy competitive conditions».
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