OREANDA-NEWS. October 30, 2009. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) fined "Rosneft" Oil Company" OJSC 5,280,409,387 for abusing dominant position o the wholesale market of oil products in the first half of 2009, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

On 29th July 2009 FAS Russia found that "Rosneft" Oil Company" OJSC violated Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition". The company abused its dominant position, particularly, by withdrawing the goods from circulation, which led to increased prices in the wholesale segment of the oil products market, and by creating discriminatory conditions of selling oil products to some counteragents. As a result, such actions restricted competition and infringed the interests of other persons.

The violations were registered on the markets of motor petrol, diesel fuel and aviation kerosene in the first six months of 2009.

In 2008-2009 regional offices of FAS Russia also initiated several cases against oil companies, operating in the regions, for the elements of violating antimonopoly legislation, including subsidiaries of "Rosneft" Oil Company" OJSC. In total FAS Russia initiated more than 200 such cases, and on most of them the antimonopoly bodies have found violations. The companies tend to challenge the decisions of the antimonopoly bodies in courts, but the judicial practice has generally been in favour of the Antimonopoly Service. More than ten decisions were supported by the Courts of three Instances and dozens were upheld by the Courts of the First and Appeal Instances; other decisions are being considered by the courts.