The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Moscow

Russian authorities ordered seven leading oil companies to lower their rates on Thursday after President Dmitry Medvedev lashed out at "disgusting" prices for airplane fuel. The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service sent "a warning about the need to lower prices for petroleum products to market levels" to Lukoil, Gazprom Neft, Rosneft, TNK-BP Holding, Surgutneftegaz, Tatneft and Alyans, the service said in a statement without giving further details. The companies regularly top the list of Russia's biggest oil producers. Earlier, Medvedev called for strong measures to deal with high prices for airplane fuel, which have led to the cancellation of dozens of domestic flights in Russia. "As for aviation fuel prices, the situation is simply disgusting," he said in televised remarks, explaining that prices for airplane fuel had remained mostly unchanged even as crude oil has dropped from 140 dollars per barrel this summer to around 70 dollars.

Medvedev said he had ordered law-enforcement agencies to investigate and "in the event that criminal activity is proven, to press charges," adding: "This can no longer be tolerated."