FAS RUSSIA HAS IDENTIFIED SIGNS OF A CARTEL IN THE MARKET OF RADIOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT

The Agency found cartel signs when analyzing 475 trades for more than 3 billion rubles

In the materials of the criminal case¹ sent to the FAS Russia by the Investigative Department for the Southern administrative district of Moscow, the Antimonopoly authority found signs of an anti-competitive agreement between LLC Sibmer, LLC Radiatsionnaya Tekhnika, JSC NIITFA, LLC MSM and JSC MF Radiy and initiated a case².

Companies are suspected of maintaining prices at 475 auctions for performing maintenance work on medical radiological equipment. The sum of their contracts amounted to more than 3 billion rubles.

Fines for each company can be up to 50% of the initial (maximum) contract price, and officials can be held criminally liable.

“We actively interact with law enforcement authorities in accordance with the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation to tighten responsibility for anti-competitive agreements. Practice shows that not only violation of antimonopoly legislation can lead to criminal prosecution, but also vice versa – the FAS initiates cases based on the materials of law enforcement authorities,” Andrey Tenishev, Head of the Anti - Cartel Department of the FAS Russia said.

“We will carefully study all the circumstances of the case. If the companies are found guilty, they will face multimillion fines, and officials will face criminal liability,” he added.

¹ Initiated under part 4 of article 291, part 3 of article 291.1, part 5 of article 290 of the Criminal Code

² According to paragraph 2. part 1 of article 11 Of the Law on Protection of Competition