OREANDA-NEWS. November 18, 2013. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) jointly with FAS Office in the Samara region (Samara OFAS Russia) held a Commission for investigating an antimonopoly case using video-conferencing.

The first case investigated using video-conferencing was a case on violating the antimonopoly law by the Governor of the Samara region, the Government of the Samara region, the Ministry of the Samara region for Economic Development, Investments and Trading, as well as “Rodnik” Samara Integrated Works” Ltd., “Zhigulyovsky Vodka Plant” Ltd., “Miko-Alko” Ltd., “Buyan” Ltd., “Rozhdestvenskoye” Ltd., “Rosinka” Cognac and Champagne Integrated Works” CJSC and “Toliatti Wine Plant” Ltd.

The case against the authorities of the Samara region and producers of alcohol products was initiated upon petitions of “METRO Cash & Carry” Ltd. and “Federal Product Company” Ltd. due to the regional Government pursuing an Address of the Governor of the Samara region, Nikolai Merkushin, that requested to increase the share of Samara beverages in 2-3 years to 80% by improving the sales system and elements of a monopolistic status of regional producers.

On 31st October 2013, FAS Commission terminated involvement in the case of “Buyan” Ltd., “Rozhdestvenskoye” Ltd., “Rosinka” Cognac and Champagne Integrated Works” CJSC and “Toliatti Wine Plant” Ltd. as the respondents due to absence of the facts confirming violations of Article 16 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”. The case against other persons continues; the next meeting of FAS Commission is scheduled for 10th December 2013.

“FAS continues executing the Road Map. For the first time, the Commission was held remotely. In this case respondents were in Samara, the FAS Commission and claimants in Moscow. This is a modern and convenient method of case investigation, enabling to fully exercise all procedures provided for by the law. We think that after the adjournment, the case investigation will continue in the same format”, pointed out the Head of FAS Department for Control over the Authorities, Vladimir Mishelovin.

Reference:

The Action Plan (“Road Map”) for “Developing Competition and Improving the Antimonopoly Policy” is approved by No. 2579-r Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of 28th December 2012. One of the items of the “Road Map” is a project for remote investigation of antimonopoly cases by FAS. To simplify operations of entrepreneurs under the framework of antimonopoly regulation, the “Road Map” specifies the Action Plan to implement system-wide measures for developing competition in the Russian Federation.