OREANDA-NEWS. December 12, 2011. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) presents the second issue of “Russian Competition Law and Economy” academic and research journal to wide readership, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

A local electric power grid company forced residents of apartment blocks in Krasnogorsk (the Moscow region) to make advance payments for electric power. It appeared that the company imposed disadvantageous contract conditions upon its consumers in vain. A “household” (at first thought) incident snowballed in a case on antimonopoly violation. FAS made over 100 decisions about violations committed by generating companies, providers of last resorts and sales companies, as well as business organisations; and fined the violators over 1 billon Rubles. The main theme of the second issue: who and why restricts consumption of electric power, who is closely watched by FAS experts, what kind of violators are exposed.

FAS Cartel Department continues discussing cartels formed in various sectors by entrepreneurs and government officials. From an article in “Russian Competition Law and Economy” journal, its readers will learn how FAS exposed a cartel in the Ulyanovsk region, where 90 million Rubles disappeared to from a local budget, and how many years a regional minister will spend in a penal colony for unlawfully purchasing equipment for medical needs.

Be especially careful on the eve of holidays and beware of all sorts of discounts – warns FAS Department for Control over Advertising and Unfair Competition. Consumers can pay a huge price for small, non-legible print on advertisement posters: for instance, get a loan with an exorbitant interest or buy a car for a price three times exceeding the advertised one.

The main aim of the new electronic journal is to promote development of competition in Russia, as well as in the whole Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Details about the annual Competition Day in Rostov in 2011 outline the main priorities and issues of antimonopoly regulation in Russia and abroad.

The electronic file of the second issue of the journal can be downloaded from FAS official site.

http://fas.gov.ru/eljournal/eljournal_30898.html