FAS TEAM-WORK WITH MASS MEDIA HELPS PROTECT COMPETITION IN RUSSIA AND INCREASE LEGAL AWARENESS OF THE POPULATION

At the end of last year, FAS held a workshop for mass media: “Antimonopoly regulation 2.0. Countering cartels. FAS practice of investigating cases against unfair competition”. FAS also awarded the winners of the “Open View on Competition” Contest”

Opening the workshop, Director of Moscow branch of FAS Centre for Education and Training, Evgeny Utkin, thanked journalists who represented nearly every corner of Russia, for their desire to enhance competences in understanding antimonopoly regulation and the role of competition, their aspiration to present complex information in plain language but at the same time in an attractive and interesting manner.

Roman Serebryanny, Secretary of the Journalists Union, a panelist of the “Open View of Competition” Contest, drew the workshop’s attention to the fact that FAS efforts directly concern every person, whether there they relate to petrol prices or unfair advertising. That is why the Antimonopoly Service is a valuable source of information for journalists and an active participant of the events field.

Executive Director of Russian Association of PR Specialists (RAPR), Yulia Gryaznova, put an emphasis on the role of mass media and journalists in establishing trust between the authorities, the sociality and business: “Do not forget that at least one third of such trust depends on you”.

The journalists participating in the workshop learned about FAS activities, and obtained explanations and comments regarding complex issues directly from Heads of relevant Departments.

The speakers included Head of FAS Legal Department Artem Molchanov, Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department Andrey Tenishev, Head of FAS PR Department Irina Kashunina, who described the procedure for FAS interaction with mass media.

“FAS cooperation with you is built up in two directions. On the one hand, FAS serves as a source of information; and on the other- mass media acts as sources of information to expose and suppress violations of the antimonopoly law. Our team-work helps protect competition in Russia and enhance legal awareness of the population”, underlined Irina Kashunina.

Deputy Head of FAS Department for Control over Advertising and Unfair Competition, Yana Sklyarova moderated a business game – “NCA Expert Council” where workshop participants acted as experts. Journalists identified elements of brand style and packaging used by manufacturers to create confusion between their products and competitor’s products”.

The workshop needed with announcing the results of the IV National Media Contest – “An Open View on Competition” Stats-Secretary Andrey Tsarikovskiy and Director of Moscow branch of FAS Centre for Education and Training, Evgeny Utkin awarded valuable gifts and certificates to the winners. Congratulating the journalists, Andrey Tsarikovskiy emphasized that FAS not just notices materials praising the Antimonopoly Service but appreciates, first of all, authors’ professional competences, accurate presentation of FAS position and explaining the importance of competition for the economy of Russia.