FAS specialists took part in a “For Fair Procurement” webinar of the All-Russia People’s Front

FAS representatives demonstrated a method of exposing cartels in open sources

On 7 September 2017 the All-Russia People’s Front (APF) held a joint webinar involving representatives of APF Project “For Fair Procurement”, Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department Andrey Tenishev, and Head of the V Unit, FAS Anti-Cartel Department, Tahir Scherba.

During the webinar Andrey Tenishev shared with APF activists important, up-to-date information about the state of competition in public procurement and answered their numerous questions. APF was interested primarily in FAS experience on countering cartels, examples of the most high-profile cases and the prospects of criminal prosecution as well as methodological aspects of cartel exposure by APF activists.

Andrey Tenishev presented a method, specially designed by FAS, to expose cartels using open information sources and techniques of fixing it.

“Procurement cartels have become wide-sweeping. We even have to introduce a new term: “cartelization”. It is especially pressing in procurement of medicinal drugs and medical equipment, road repair, maintenance and construction, as well as supplying computer hardware. Under such volumes of information that needs to be analyzed and summarized, any help to the antimonopoly bodies in exposing violations is precious. In this context, cooperation with the All-Russia People’s Front is very important, particularly, the APF Project “For Fair Procurement”, and quality information supplied by them often reveals violations of the antimonopoly law”, pointed out Andrey Tenishev.

As a result of the meeting, agreements were reached on a closer interaction between FAS and “For Fair Procurement” APF Project, particularly, through, exchanging data and methodological materials, organizing joint Round Tables and workshops, establishing working contacts, and strengthening information about their operations.