MOSCOW, March 15 (RAPSI) - Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has launched a formal probe into Google over alleged violation of competition law, reads the statement of the watchdog published on Tuesday.

A legal representative of Google Inc. has been summoned to appear in the FAS’ office for giving explanation in the case on March 31.

Initially, the watchdog launched a case against Google in February 2015 over using Android mobile operating system for promotion of its own services. The case was opened at the request of Yandex, one of the largest internet companies in Europe, operating Russia's most popular search engine and a website.

Yandex claimed that manufacturers have to abide by terms established by Google to gain access to key elements of OS, including Google Play, which is Google's official store for Android apps, games and other content. As a result, Google which has developed OS can set any restrictions, including a ban on collaboration with competing services, Yandex said in a statement.

In September, the FAS found Google guilty of violating the Federal Law on Protection of Competition and charged the company with abuse of dominant market position.

The watchdog ordered Google to remedy detected violations until December 18.

Google denies the allegations and claims it does not restrict people from installing other companies’ applications, including Yandex, onto Android phones.

The company has filed a lawsuit against the FAS’ order but it was dismissed by the Moscow Commercial Court on March 14.