OREANDA-NEWS. December 17, 2013. The Commission of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) found that the Governor and the Government of the Samara region violated the antimonopoly law.

In the course of the investigation, the FAS Commission established signs of violating Article 16 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” in actions of the Government of the Samara region and some producers of alcohol products in the Samara region, and signs of violating Article 15 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” by the Ministry of the Samara region for Economic Development, Investments and Commerce the Ministry of Economy of the Samara region).

The FAS Commission separated a case against “Rodnik” Samara Integrated Works” Ltd., “MIKO-ALKO” Ltd., “Zhigulevsky Vodka Plant” Ltd. and the Government of the Samara region upon violating Article 16 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”.

The case was initiated upon signs of violating the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” (Part 1 Article 15), and the Law “On Trade” (Article 15) against the Governor and the Government of the Samara region upon the facts of enforcing the Governor’s Address made in December 2012.

Earlier FAS received petitions from “METRO Cash & Carry” Ltd. and the “Federal Product Company” Ltd. on violating the antimonopoly law in the Samara region and submitted evidence of Samara authorities implementing the address of the Governor. Having considered the petitions, FAS initiated a case upon signs of violating the antimonopoly law and the law on trading.

The Governor of the Samara region, Nikolai Merkushin called upon members of Samara Regional Legislature to increase the share of Samara beverages for 2-3 years to 80% due to improving the system of sales, elements of monopolistic status of regional producers.

“The unity of economic space, free movement of goods, services and financial means, support of competition, freedom of economic activity are guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Any intervention of the authorities in competitive market performance that is not based on the law will not pass without FAS noticing it. Violating Article 16 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” is more serious in terms of liability. FAS will analyze actions of all respondents to the case in more detail and will make a decision based on the factual circumstances”, pointed out Deputy Head of FAS, Alexander Kinev.