Andrey Tenishev discussed practice of cartel exposing and proving with OFAS Heads

Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department discussed efforts to combat cartels and other anticompetitive agreements at a workshop for representatives of FAS regional bodies on “Pressing issues of the antimonopoly law”

Andrey Tenishev said that overall 412 cases had been opened in 2016 under Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” (anticompetitive agreements), of which 334 - cartels (81.1%). This is 18.4% more than in 2015. Most cartels concern bid-rigging (89.2%). The figure has increased by 28.4% in comparison with 2015.

According to Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department, the sectors that are most vulnerable to cartelization include: supplies of medicinal drugs and medical products, housing & utilities services, construction, supplies of computers and office equipment.

He recommenced Heads of FAS regional bodies to pay special attention to procurement of IT-products by the authorities since there are suspicions of a general price-overrating practice for computers and office equipment purchased under public procurement.

He highlighted some cases of regional antimonopoly bodies on collusions in construction: cases investigated by Ivanovo, Perm, and Penza OFAS.

Andrey Tenishev reminded the attendees that in the course of training workshops at FAS Centre for Education and Methodics in Kazan, specialists of FAS regional bodies were demonstrated methods of remote exposing and proving collusions at electronic auctions. At practical classes the staff of the antimonopoly bodies was able to expose over 40 large cartels in different regions of the Russian Federation.

Finally he emphasized that decartelization of construction, procurement of medicinal drugs and medical products, and supplies of computer equipment is determined as one of FAS priorities for 2017.