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Antimonopoly case against Google turns into criminal probe

In September 2015, FAS ruled that Google Inc. and Google Ireland Ltd. had breached the competition protection law under the complaint of the Russian Internet company Yandex

MOSCOW, December 8. /TASS/. The case of violation of the competition law by US Google Corporation is passing to the sphere of criminal laws, head of the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) Igor Artemyev told reporters on Thursday.

"We are moving now [the case] to another sphere, the sphere of criminal laws. We have already filed appropriate actions to enforce the decision for Google. We are at this stage now. They are disputing all our decisions on prior fines. Let them do so. Meanwhile, we are moving to the sphere of failure to perform decisions," Artemyev said.

In September 2015, FAS ruled that Google Inc. and Google Ireland Ltd. had breached the competition protection law under the complaint of the Russian Internet company Yandex. According to the regulator, Google obliged manufacturers of Android OS-based devices to pre-install its applications together with Android platform. FAS said that Google’s policy restricted installation of applications by other developers. Google did not agree with the ruling and appealed to the court.

Google did not agree with FAS decision and appealed to the court. On February 5, 2015, the Court brought Yandex as a third party in the case and decided to hold hearings behind closed doors. On March 14 of this year the Moscow Arbitration Court dismissed the lawsuit Google filed against Russia’s FAS.

Google lodged a cassation appeal against the court judgement in favor of FAS regarding the case on abusing dominant position.

Artemyev also said earlier that the US company is delaying performance of the regulator’s order by its lawsuits.

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