The respondent on a bid-rigging cartel case related to “Vybory” State Automated System can be imposed an administrative fine

FAS opened an administrative case against “Aquarius” Production Company” Ltd. for failure to submit documents on a reasonable FAS request  

At the end of April 2017, due to a postponed investigation of an antimonopoly case against a bid-rigging cartel with regard to “Vybory” State Automated System, FAS requested “Aquarius” Production Company” Ltd. to submit information required for fully-fledged and comprehensive case investigation. The company failed to submit information on particular request items.  

Under the Code on Administrative Violations (Article 19.8), the company can be fined up to 500,000 RUB.

Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department, Andrey Tenishev pointed out: “The requested information is required by the antimonopoly body for objective case investigation, which fully meets the interests of “Aquarius” Production Company” Ltd. as the respondent to the case. Hopefully, in the course of the administrative procedure the company will submit the requested documents and information in full”.

In November 2016  FAS opened a case upon signs of violating Clause 2 Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” against suppliers of computer equipment: “Business Computers Group” Ltd., “AMI-NETWORK” Ltd., “CROC Incorporated” CJSC, “Superwave Group” Ltd., “Craftway Corporation PLC” CJSC, “Aquarius” Production Company” Ltd.

FAS suspects the companies of concluding an anticompetitive agreement in the course of competitive bidding for supplies of computer equipment for some budget-funded organizations.  

FAS brought Russian Offices of an American company “HP” and “Lenovo” of China and the “National Computer Corporation” Ltd. as respondents to the case.