OREANDA-NEWS. December 20, 2010. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) made “Chernozemie” Federal Highway Office and “36-Road Maintenance Enterprise” Ltd. administratively liable for concluding and exercising an anticompetitive agreement that resulted in restricting competition. “Chernozemie” Federal Highway Office” Federal State Institution must pay a fine of 100,000 Rubles and “36-Road Maintenance Enterprise” Ltd. - a turnover fine 3,388,450 Rubles, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

On 13th October 2010, FAS Russia found that “Chernozemie” Federal Highway Office and “36-Road Maintenance Enterprise” Ltd. violated Clause 2 Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” (prohibiting competition-restricting concerted actions).

The case was initiated upon a complaint of “Dorspetsstroi” Ltd.

FAS Russia established that “Chernozemie” Federal Highway Office organized an auction for capital repair works of the part of А-144 highway “Kursk-Voronezh-Borisoglebsk” to the “Kaspii” highway between 213+000 km. and 218+500 km (I start-up complex) in the Voronezh region.

A video record presented by “Dorspetsstroi” Ltd. shows that after opening the bid of “36-Road Maintenance Enterprise” Ltd. the Chairman of the Auction Commission announced the works schedule and the cost of works that differed from those specified in the bid. As a result “36-Road Maintenance Enterprise” Ltd. won the tender. FAS ФАС discovered an oral agreement between the auction organizer and the bidder, the purpose of which was to make “36-Road Maintenance Enterprise” Ltd. the winner of the auction.

“FAS Russia believes that such actions of the auction organizers eliminated competitive bidding, as the intent was to conclude the government contract with the particular bidder”, says Alexander Kinyov, the Head of the FAS Russia’s Cartel Department.