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Russian police are gathering information about Moscow-based Say Agency, which organized Kanye West’s canceled concerts in St. Petersburg, Kommersant reported, citing an anonymous source. The inquiry concerns possible fraud and follows complaints from ticket buyers; the information is to be sent to Moscow, where officials will decide whether to open a criminal investigation.
St. Petersburg police are gathering information about Moscow-based Say Agency over possible fraud connected to Kanye West’s canceled concerts, Kommersant reported on September 30, citing an anonymous source. The inquiry follows complaints from ticket buyers and does not, according to the report, mean that a criminal investigation has been opened.
Kommersant reported that officers in the city’s Petrogradsky district are conducting the inquiry. The information gathered is expected to be sent to Moscow, where Russia’s Interior Ministry headquarters will decide whether there are grounds to open a criminal investigation, the newspaper’s source said. The report did not identify the source.
The inquiry followed a request from a member of St. Petersburg’s Legislative Assembly, who had received complaints from ticket buyers. West, also known as Ye, had been scheduled to perform at Gazprom Arena on October 10 and 11. Tickets were priced from 9,000 to 160,000 rubles. Organizers said more than 100,000 tickets were sold during the first two days of sales.
Gazprom Arena’s management said on August 24 that the concerts would not go ahead. Say Agency said the concert announcement and ticket sales had been approved and that it had already signed a contract with the musician. The venue reiterated on September 4 that its October schedule included no concerts by foreign performers. Ticket buyers then sought refunds from Say Agency, as well as compensation for travel costs and emotional distress. The concerts were removed from West’s official tour schedule by September 18.
Refund Dispute Reaches Police
The reported inquiry puts the dispute over canceled performances into a formal police process. For ticket buyers, the immediate question is whether they can recover the ticket price and any additional expenses they say they incurred. The available report says buyers demanded refunds and compensation; it does not establish whether Say Agency has paid them or whether any claim has been resolved.
The next decision belongs to Russia’s Interior Ministry headquarters, according to Kommersant’s source. If officials conclude there are grounds, they could open a criminal investigation. At this stage, however, the reported police work is an inquiry into possible fraud, and no criminal case or finding of wrongdoing has been reported. That distinction matters for both the organizer and customers waiting for a clear route to repayment.
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From Concert Announcement to Cancellation
The planned shows became controversial after their announcement. Russian lawmakers and activists objected to West’s past remarks about Adolf Hitler and his use of Nazi symbols. Some also demanded that he support what Russian officials call the “special military operation” in Ukraine. These objections formed part of the public backlash, but the source report does not say they are the subject of the police inquiry.
In August, amid the criticism, Gazprom Arena announced the concerts would not proceed. Say Agency maintained that the booking and ticket sales had been approved and said it had a contract with West. On September 4, the venue said its October program had no foreign performers. By September 18, the dates no longer appeared on West’s official tour schedule. The sequence left buyers seeking refunds from the concert organizer.
“The information gathered will be sent to Moscow, where the Interior Ministry headquarters will decide whether there are grounds to open a criminal investigation.”
— An anonymous source cited by Kommersant
Status of Claims and Refunds
The report does not say whether police have identified a specific suspected offense, interviewed Say Agency representatives, or reached any conclusions. It also does not say whether the Interior Ministry has received the collected information or decided whether to open a criminal investigation. No criminal case is reported as opened, and the possible fraud remains an allegation under inquiry.
The number of customers who sought refunds, the amount of money at issue, and the status of individual claims are not specified. Organizers said sales exceeded 100,000 tickets in the first two days, but the report gives no independently verified sales figure, total refunds paid, or account of how ticket revenue was handled. It remains unclear whether buyers will receive compensation for travel expenses or emotional distress.
Decision on a Criminal Case
According to the anonymous source cited by Kommersant, police in Petrogradsky district will send the information they gather to Moscow. The Interior Ministry headquarters is then expected to assess whether there are grounds to open a criminal investigation. No timetable for that decision was reported.
Ticket buyers are seeking refunds and additional compensation from Say Agency. The source material does not identify a scheduled court hearing, a refund deadline, or a further statement from the agency. The next concrete developments to watch are the ministry’s decision and any updates from the organizer or buyers about repayment.
Key Questions
Are Russian police investigating Say Agency?
Kommersant reported that police in St. Petersburg are gathering information about possible fraud involving Say Agency. The report describes an inquiry and does not say a criminal investigation has been opened.
Why are police looking into the concert organizer?
The inquiry reportedly followed a request from a member of St. Petersburg’s Legislative Assembly who had received complaints from ticket buyers after the concerts were canceled.
When were Kanye West’s St. Petersburg concerts scheduled?
West had been scheduled to perform at Gazprom Arena on October 10 and 11, 2026. The venue said the concerts would not go ahead, and the dates were later removed from his official tour schedule.
Will ticket buyers get refunds?
Buyers began demanding refunds from Say Agency after the cancellation, along with compensation for travel expenses and emotional distress. The available reporting does not confirm whether refunds or additional compensation have been paid.
Source: rss
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