Russian antitrust can fine Google for order disrespect on Nov 2

MOSCOW, Oct 24 (PRIME) -- Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service will consider on November 2 an administrative case against Google for its failure to follow the authority’s order and mend breaches on the market of preinstalled application stores and will raise the issue of a fine, Yelena Zayeva, director of the IT regulation department at the service, said Monday.

The service earlier found Google guilty of abusing its dominant position and forcing Android device manufacturers to install its application store, Google Play, in a tie-up with its other programs. The case was opened upon a complaint by local Internet giant Yandex.

The antitrust watchdog fined Google 438 million rubles, and the date to pay the penalty expired in late August. The U.S. company asked for a delay, but the plea was dismissed. The service said earlier it could fine Google up to 500,000 rubles for disrespect of the order.

The service and the U.S. company are also involved in court proceedings.

(62.4499 rubles – U.S. $1)

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