Sverdlovsk Region’s division of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) ruled that the advertisements distributed by L’Etoile cosmetics chain store via text messaging were undue and illegitimate. The ads in question were sent to N. Melekhova, a local citizen, the spokesperson for the Service reports.

The authorities took action against OOO Alcor-C (L’Etoile chain store) upon receiving an official complaint from Ms Melekhova; the charges had to do with violating the advertising legislation.

Ms Melekhova stated that she had received four text messages with advertisements by L’Etoile (OOO Alcor-C) between August 14, 2009 and September 1, 2009, even though she had never given her written consent to receive any advertising information from the store.

Sverdlovsk Region’s division of the Federal Antimonopoly Service declared that OOO Alcor & Co, OOO Konmark, and OOO Rapporto had violated Article 18 (part 1) of the Federal Advertising Act. The offense consisted in the distribution of advertising text messages without the addressees’ agreement provided in writing.