In a recent briefing, Sergei Puzyrevsky, the Deputy Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation (FAS), outlined planned measures to tighten control over tariff growth for housing and communal services, curb unreasonable food price hikes, and standardize regulation for natural monopolies. He conveyed these intentions during an interview with the newspaper News, stating that new rules and oversight would be adopted to ensure pricing and service practices align with public interests. This signals a broad push by the agency to strengthen market discipline amid evolving economic conditions and complex sectoral dynamics.
Puzyrevsky emphasized that as online trade and digital infrastructure expand, existing antitrust rules must be extended to cover the sizable digital monopolies operating in the country. Responding to this reality, Russia introduced the fifth antimonopoly package, a comprehensive set of civil regulations designed to harmonize domestic practices with widely accepted global norms. He noted a rise in antitrust investigations targeting digital services, reflecting a broader shift toward tougher scrutiny of online platforms and their market power in everyday life and consumer markets.
Regarding consumer prices, the official highlighted that since 2022 the volume of complaints about food overpricing has increased, with notable price upticks recorded in April and May across the nation. The most pronounced growth was seen in essential goods such as fruit and vegetables (including onions, beets, carrots, cabbage, and potatoes), as well as sugar, rice, salt, tea, military uniforms, baby food, and soap. Puzyrevsky attributed several cases to unfair, speculative behavior by market participants toward consumers, underscoring the need for stronger regulatory response to curb exploitative practices and restore fair competition in the market.
In response, the agency has developed a legislative bill aimed at countering speculative price increases. The proposed framework would empower the FAS to examine price spikes that exceed a 30 percent rise within a short timeframe and assess their economic feasibility on behalf of the government, with the goal of stopping unfair market conduct. Puzyrevsky indicated that this bill could be presented to the State Duma for consideration in September, signaling a concrete step toward enhanced oversight of price dynamics in the consumer sector.
Additionally, Puzyrevsky mentioned a draft law from the ministry concerning tariff setting for natural monopolies under universal rules. This draft seeks to establish uniform principles, objectives, and methodologies, along with standardized cost components and adjustments for tariffs. The process is being coordinated with sectoral ministries and has received engagement from business representatives, who report progress in aligning the bill with real-world market needs. The aim is to create a transparent and predictable tariff environment that supports sustainable investment while protecting consumers from disproportionate charges.
The deputy head stressed that the proposed law could address numerous issues related to the economic feasibility of tariffs and, crucially, promote faster digitalization of tariff regulation. By clarifying cost structures and standardizing procedures, the measure would help authorities and regulated entities operate with greater transparency and efficiency, enabling more accurate pricing decisions in a regulated landscape that increasingly intersects with digital services and infrastructure networks.
Earlier information indicated that the Federal Antimonopoly Service had published comments from Vitaly Vantsev, a co-owner of Vnukovo Airport, regarding potential price adjustments for international air travel. The warning, issued at a time of heightened sensitivity around aviation pricing, underscores the ongoing attention to how monopolistic and competitive dynamics affect consumer costs in sectors critical to national mobility and international connectivity. The broader context includes discussions within the central bank about monetary policy and its potential impact on transport and related services, illustrating the interconnected nature of regulatory and macroeconomic developments in Russia’s market environment.