MOSCOW — The oil sector should be declared monopolistic and should be regulated along with other natural monopolies, Russian agriculture minister Alexey Gordeyev has told reporters today. He noted that this policy would be efficient for containing the growth in fuel prices. The minister underscored that in his opinion, oil companies had practically monopolized all regional markets now.

Gordeyev believes that the government should take resolute measures to prevent a rise in fuel prices, rather than wait for legislative initiatives to resolve this problem. As reported earlier, MPs have suggested at today's session of the State Duma that a special law should adopted to limit the growth in fuel prices.