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Antimonopoly watchdog slaps Gazprom with $3.4 mln fine for violating anti-trust law

The fine was imposed for a non-competition agreement within the framework of approval of the gas supply development program for the Samara Region in 2016-2020

© Vitaliy Nevar/TASS

MOSCOW, May 17. /TASS/. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) of Russia imposed fines on Gazprom and OOO Gazprom Mezhregiongaz totaling 211 mln rubles ($3.4 mln) and 412,000 rubles ($6,650) respectively for a non-competition agreement within the framework of approval of the gas supply development program for the Samara Region in 2016-2020, the watchdog says on Thursday.

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In May 2017, FAS recognized that the governor of the Samara Region, the regional energy and public utilities ministry, the Gazprom Group and OOO Gazprom Mezhregiongaz violated the competition protection law.

"Considering that Gazprom and OOO Gazprom Mezhregiongaz fully performed the FAS order by the time of calling to administrative liability, the fine amounted to 211 mln rubles ($3.4 mln) for Gazprom and 412,000 rubles ($6,650) for Gazprom Mezhregiongaz," the FAS said.

"The FAS of Russia combines functions of the antimonopoly authority and the tariff regulation authority. Application of antimonopoly measures prevented construction of inefficient gas distribution infrastructure. In its turn, it limits rates of tariffs growth in the region," deputy head of the regulator Anatoly Golomolzin said in a comment.

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