MOSCOW: Russia said Monday it has launched legal proceedings against US tech giant Apple over the alleged fixing of retail prices for iPhones in the country.
The Russian antitrust authority in a statement cited legislation banning businesses from setting up cartels or making agreements that limit competition.
The Federal Anti-monopoly Service said its investigation “showed that from the start of official sales of iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in Russia, the majority of resellers set identical prices for them and held them for a certain period.”
It said it had identified “resellers’ prices coinciding” for other iPhone models as well, and named 16 major chains of mobile phones and other electronics allegedly taking part in the price-fixing.
It alleged that this could be “the result of coordination of Russian resellers’ price formation by the Apple group.” This it claimed “led to the setting of prices on the Russian market and acceptance of so-called ‘recommended’ prices as compulsory.”
Russia said it is taking legal action against a Russian company registered by Apple, LLC Apple Rus, as well as Apple Holding B.V., Apple Sales Ireland, Apple Operations International and Apple Inc.
In September 2015 Russia’s antitrust authority found US Internet giant Google guilty of unfairly keeping rival services off Android mobile devices. The two sides are holding talks aimed at reaching an amicable solution.
