Anti-cartel cooperation: arrangements are reached in Perm

Perm OFAS and the regional law enforcement bodies discussed cooperation in cartel exposing.

The Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department, Andrey Tenishev, chaired a session and a working meeting with the power-wielding structured and regulators in the Perm region: the Main Department of the Ministry of Interior, the Investigation Committee and the Prosecutor’s Office of the Perm region.

“Such events should take place in all regions of Russia”, emphasized Andrey Tenishev. “Close cooperation between FAS and the law enforcement bodies will enhance efficiency of cartel countering, because the Antimonopoly Service does not have the authority for operational-investigative activities, this is the competence of the law enforcement bodies”.

The discussions also focused on punishments for cartel participants and organizers. The Antimonopoly Service can impose heavy administrative fines (up 50% of the contract value) upon the violators. In the opinion of the Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department, however, punishment must not always be limited to fines: “Sometimes dishonest companies are ready to pay any fines and continue  their activities, therefore owners, directors, top-managers of the companies involved in a cartel should be held criminally liable”.

Andrey Tenishev said that frequently not only auction bidders but also officials of the ordering parties are involved in collusions. The Antimonopoly Service can only expose the primary signs of such violations and only the investigative bodies can ascertain a fact of corruption.