MOSCOW, September 27 - RAPSI. The Moscow Commercial Court will hear a lawsuit by two meat-processing plants on October 24. The lawsuit was filed against the antitrust authority's resolution that accused them of price fixing while bidding for meat supply contracts, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com).

According to the source, the lawsuit filed jointly by the companies Gatchinsky and Dubki will be considered as part of the proceedings initiated earlier by other meat-processing plants against the antitrust oversight agency.

The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has accused various bidders for food distribution contracts with the Defense Ministry, the Federal Protective Service and the Interior Ministry, of price fixing. The FAS reported to Prime, a business news agency, that the matter concerns a tender held in July 2009 when the government purchased almost 1,000 tons of meat products for about 150 million rubles ($4.8 million).

Twenty companies were involved in the tender, including major meat processors.

The FAS said the bidders will be fined and that it will file charges to instigate criminal cases against company executives for offences punishable by up to seven years in prison.