"Lukoil" vs. CPC: Announcing a future decision of the Commission is a violation

After the interview of the Chairman of the Commission for the Protection of Competition Yulia Nenkova on bTV, "Lukoil-Bulgaria" disseminated its position to the media. Nenkova announced to bTV that the commission imposed a sanction on the company in the amount of nearly BGN 70 million and said that it was preparing a second sanction for abuse of a dominant position.

In this regard, Lukoil-Bulgaria presented its position: "In connection with the statement of the Chairman of the Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC) Yulia Nenkova on bTV, "Lukoil-Bulgaria" EOOD considers it necessary to note that the announcement of a future decision of the CPC regarding the company before its official adoption is a violation of the principles of impartiality and independence of the regulatory body, ignores the presumption of innocence of the company and can be interpreted as an attempt to put pressure on the EU authorities by manipulating public expectations.

The CPC representative also made a statement about the fine previously imposed on Lukoil-Bulgaria, without mentioning that it was the subject of an ongoing legal dispute. The company appealed the decision of the CPC as unfounded, illegal, contrary to the public interest and serving the private interests of a very limited circle of large market participants.

"Lukoil-Bulgaria" strictly complies with the legislation of the Republic of Bulgaria and the European Union. As the largest distributor of fuels in Bulgaria, Lukoil-Bulgaria makes a key contribution to maintaining the prices of petroleum products in the country at one of the lowest levels in the EU, providing the opportunity to purchase fuels produced at the Burgas refinery at hundreds of different small wholesalers.”