Gazprom Guilty of Violations of Anti-Monopoly Law

The Russian Anti-Monopoly Ministry (MAP) has written to Gazprom demanding that it end violations of the law 'On competition and limiting monopolistic activity in product markets.' According to a press release issued by the ministry's press centre, a MAP commission has determined that several Gazprom subsidiaries - Mezhregiongaz, Kirovregiongaz, Chuvashregiongaz, and Nizhny Novgorod TEK - have broken anti-monopoly law by inhibiting access to the regional gas sales market for Trans Nafta.

The press centre explained that the Anti-Monopoly Ministry had received a complaint from Trans Nafta stating that the actions of the above-mentioned companies had placed the plaintiff in an unfair position in relation to the other companies in the group. After carrying out an investigation, the ministry decided that Gazprom, Mezhregiongaz, Kirovregiongaz, Chuvashregiongaz, and Nizhny Novgorod TEK had violated anti-monopoly law and inhibited Trans Nafta's access to the regional gas market. Access was inhibited by 'retaining gas in the gas transport system, and supplying gas belonging to Trans Nafta last, which left it in an unequal position in relation to the other companies in the Gazprom group."

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