OREANDA-NEWS. February 16, 2012. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) is investigating a case against the Forestry Department for the Central Federal District. The case was initiated on 24th January 2012 upon signs of restricting competition in course of competitive bidding (in violation of Article 17 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

On 9th November 2011, the Forestry Department for the Central Federal District organized an auction for selling the right to conclude a lease contract for forest plots owned by the state.

However, not everyone willing to take part in the auction was able to file auction bids due to absence of full and timely information about the auction.

According to the petitions received by FAS Russia, information about the auction was published in the “Yezhednevnye Novosti. Podmoskovye” daily newspaper (3rd September 2011) and on the web-site of the Federal Forestry Agency – www.rosleshoz.gov.ru – in the section “Regional Bodies” on the Department page, which displays information about auctions and tenders organized by the Department. The auction organizer did publish a notice about the auction on its site.

According to the petitions, 51 forest plots were put on the auction. The auction notice indicated Forest Register State Registration Numbers of the 22 forest plots in the form in breach of the form established by No.370 Order of the Ministry of Natural resources and Environment of the Russian Federation of 28th November 2007.