Prosveshchenie cuts history textbook prices by up to 45% after second FAS order
In short
The Russian publisher Prosveshchenie has cut prices on four history textbooks for grades 10–11 by between 36.94% and 44.98%, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) said. The reduction followed a second FAS order requiring economically justified prices. FAS says the move will save regional budget funds and make textbooks more affordable for schoolchildren.
Read the full story 2 min read
The publisher Prosveshchenie has reduced prices on four history textbooks for grades 10–11 by 36.94% to 44.98%, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) said. TASS described them as state history textbooks for grades 10–11. According to Vedomosti and Kommersant, the reductions were made under a second FAS order, which required the publisher to set economically justified selling prices not exceeding the costs and profit needed to produce and sell the books. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
FAS said the lower prices would substantially save the funds regional budgets spend on buying these textbooks and would ensure that the books remain affordable for schoolchildren. [ 2 , 3 ]
Vedomosti reported that the new prices took effect on 21 September. Under a first FAS order, the publisher had already reduced prices on 94 titles in Russian language, history and biology in August, in some cases by 78%, according to Vedomosti and Kommersant. [ 2 , 3 ]
Kommersant reported that FAS found in 2024 that Prosveshchenie was setting excessively high prices for school textbooks in history, biology and Russian language, and ordered the publisher to cut prices and transfer more than 2 billion rubles of what the service described as illegally obtained income to the budget. Prosveshchenie went to court seeking to have the service's actions declared unlawful, and the court cancelled the fine, Kommersant reported. [ 3 ]
According to Kommersant, FAS based its order not on the price increase itself but on the gap between the growth in textbook prices and the costs of producing and selling them, which the service said produced profitability well above the industry average. FAS said the publisher holds a dominant position in the markets for textbooks in Russian language, history and biology and set monopolistically high prices. Textbook pricing has been under state oversight since 2020, and Prosveshchenie is on FAS's register of entities with a dominant market position, the newspaper reported. [ 3 ]
Prosveshchenie's press service told Vedomosti that the education system is consistently moving to unified state textbooks and that the publisher takes part in this work as a partner of the state, providing schools with teaching literature. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The case shows a federal regulator enforcing price limits on a publisher that FAS considers dominant in school textbook markets, with the stated aim of protecting regional procurement budgets. The publisher frames its role as a partner of the state in the education system's move to unified state textbooks. The documents give no indication of how much the price cuts cost the company.
Key facts
- Prosveshchenie cut prices on four history textbooks for grades 10–11 by 36.94–44.98%, according to FAS. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The cuts were made under a second FAS order requiring economically justified selling prices. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Vedomosti reported the new prices took effect on 21 September. [ 2 ]
- Under a first FAS order, the publisher cut prices on 94 textbooks in Russian language, history and biology, in some cases by 78%. [ 2 , 3 ]
- FAS says the reductions will save regional budget funds and ensure price accessibility for schoolchildren. [ 2 , 3 ]
- In 2024 FAS found Prosveshchenie charged excessive prices for school textbooks and ordered it to pay more than 2 billion rubles of what the service called illegally obtained income; a court later cancelled the fine. [ 3 ]
- Textbook pricing has been under state oversight since 2020, and Prosveshchenie is on FAS's register of entities with a dominant market position. [ 3 ]
- Prosveshchenie's press service told Vedomosti the education system is moving to unified state textbooks and that the publisher works as a partner of the state. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Prosveshchenie reduced prices on four history textbooks for grades 10–11 by 36.94–44.98% under a FAS order. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The reduction followed a second FAS order concerning economically justified prices. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Under an earlier FAS order, the publisher cut prices on 94 textbooks in Russian language, history and biology. [ 2 , 3 ]
- FAS says the price cuts will save regional budget funds and improve textbook affordability for schoolchildren. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How the 2024 court decision cancelling the fine relates to the current orders Only Kommersant reports the 2024 FAS finding, the 2 billion ruble payment order and the court outcome, so this remains single-source.
- Which four textbooks are affected and their new prices in rubles The documents give the number of titles and the percentage reductions but no titles or absolute prices.
- The exact date the new prices took effect Only Vedomosti gives 21 September; the other documents, published on 5 October, do not state an effective date.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports that Prosveshchenie cut prices on some state history textbooks for grades 10–11 under a FAS order. [ 1 ]
- Vedomosti reports the four titles were cut 36.94–44.98% from 21 September, following a second FAS order. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant reports the same reductions and adds background on the first order, the 2024 FAS finding and the cancelled fine. [ 3 ]
- RBC reports a 37–45% reduction on four history textbooks under the FAS order. [ 4 ]