Press centre News

On December 4, 2014 the managing partner of VEGAS LEX* law firm Alexander Sitnikov held a final in this year extended session of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs' Committee for promotion of competition with participation of representatives of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. Mr. Sitnikov spoke about the attitude of business community towards the amendments of the fourth antitrust package**, he also commented on the positive suggestions with regard to this set.

The head of the Legal Department of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia Sergey Puzyrevsky spoke about the draft federal law No. 602468-6 «On amendments to the Federal law «On protection of competition», other legislative acts of the Russian Federation and invalidation of particular provisions of legislative acts of the Russian Federation» (the fourth antitrust package). The Federal Antimonopoly Service experts replied to the questions of the members of the Committee on the rules of non-discriminated access, consequences of the registry of monopolists cancellation, as well as on the remedies which business may apply in case of its rights infringement when such rules are set. The deputy director of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia Andrey Kashevarov spoke briefly on the essence and reasons for drafting the law on new arrangements for prevention of unfair competition.

The head of the Commercial group of VEGAS LEX informed about the provisions of the draft law No. 260190-6 «On amendments to article 178 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation» and discussed potential risks for business. She focused on the inadmissibility of modification of disposition in article 178 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (except for exclusion of elements related to abuse of dominant position) and on the inadmissibility of granting the Ministry of Internal Affairs the rights to initiate criminal proceedings according to this article prior to the ruling issued by the Federal Antimonopoly Service for the breach of antitrust laws.

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* VEGAS LEX law firm is one of the leaders providing legal services in the sphere of antitrust law and contributes to modification of legal environment in different economic sectors. The Firm has impact on the development and promotion of competition in the country.

VEGAS LEX is a member of the expert councils and work groups including that of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation for development of corporate legislation, promotion of competition and removal of administrative hassles; of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia for promotion of competition in retail sales, social sphere and health care sector; of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia for development of the second and third package of amendments to the Law «On protection of competition»; and for drafting amendments for the «Fifth antitrust package», etc. In 2012 the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia awarded an honorary certificate to Alexander Sitnikov for his contribution into the promotion of competition in Russia.

** In November 2013 Alexander Sitnikov headed a work group of the major business associations for development of the fourth antitrust package.

For more detail on the services of VEGAS LEX in the sphere of antitrust regulation, please go here.