MOSCOW, December 12 - RAPSI. A commercial court of appeals has upheld the antitrust watchdog's decisions and orders to small arms companies over their antitrust violations on the market of non-military weapons, the watchdog reports.

In early 2001 the watchdog invalidated a contract between Izhevsky Mekhanichesky Zavod (Izhevsk Engineering Works) and Izhevsk Arsenal granting the latter an exclusive right to purchase МR-654К air pistol as violating the Competition Law.

The case was initiated by Cornet and T.P. Artur which were denied the pistol supply contract with the manufacturer.

The antitrust service established that the Izhevsk works and Izhevsk Arsenal have this way stifled competition and did not let other companies purchase the pistol and its modifications.

The Izhevsk works manufactures small arms (incuding Makarov and Yarygin pistols), electric tools, packaging equipment, oil and gas and medical equipment as well as steel castings. Its products bear the Baikal trademark.