Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a draft decree proposing to regulate prices of certain services during the Sochi Winter Olympics and the Paralympics Games, according to a document published on the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service's website. ?
The list of services includes medical, transportation, tourism and personal grooming related services, catering services and Internet access, according to the decree published Wednesday.
The decree states that the government will not set price caps, but instead will mandate that the local administration sign agreements by Nov. 1 with companies that provide such services to prevent unjustified price hikes during the Olympics.
The document reiterated that controlling prices for consumer services was one of Russia's responsibilities under the International Olympic Committee regulations.
Earlier, the government said it planned to regulate hotel prices, with the prime minister to approve price caps in that sector, Vedomosti reported Wednesday.
The draft decree has been presented for public review, but it was not clear whether the document would be adopted in its current form, an anti-monopoly service spokeswoman told Vedomosti.
The spokesman also said the government had not finalized penalties to be paid in the event of price gouging, Vedomosti reported.
He added that before a company could obtain a permit to provide services it would have to sign an agreement with the regional and local authorities, and promise to provide them at regulated prices.
Ludmila Saidakovskaya, CEO of SG Tours, said the decree was expected. Otherwise, she added, prices would be set impossibly high and "we will simply embarrass ourselves in front of the whole world."
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.