FAS REVEALED CARTEL OF EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR 2.8 BILLION RUB

The purchases were carried out in order to implement the project for development of the railway infrastructure of the Baikal-Amur and Trans-Siberian highways

FAS Russia has recognized BaltEnergoKomplekt-XXI CENTURY LLC, KS Komplect LLC, Elektrotekhimport LLC, Baltic Engineering Company LLC and Zheldorkomplekt-SPB LLC as violating antimonopoly legislation*.

The companies concluded and implemented a cartel agreement in order to maintain prices during 33 tenders for the supply of engineering, technological and other equipment and goods for the construction of railway infrastructure of Russian Railways JSC and other customers. The purchases were carried out, in particular, to implement the project for the development of the railway infrastructure of the Baikal-Amur and Trans-Siberian highways.

The total amount of initial (maximum) contract prices amounted to 2.8 billion rubles.

The antimonopoly service received evidence in the case, including by conducting unscheduled on-site inspections in 2021 and analyzing information obtained as a result of interaction with law enforcement agencies.

Organizations face turnover fines in accordance with the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation**. Besides, the materials of the antimonopoly case will be transferred to law enforcement agencies to resolve the issue of initiating a criminal case.

*Paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Article 11 of Federal Law No. 135-FZ of 26.07.2006 "On Protection of Competition"

**Part 2 of Article 14.32 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation