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Say Agency, the organizer of two canceled Kanye West concerts in St. Petersburg, says prosecutors found no evidence of fraud in a review of the agency. The concerts, scheduled for October 10 and 11, were canceled after the venue said there was no rental agreement; ticket refunds began in October, but details of the prosecutors’ review have not been released.
Prosecutors found no evidence of fraud in a review of Say Agency, according to representatives of the company that organized Kanye West’s canceled St. Petersburg concerts. The inquiry followed a complaint from a resident who had bought a ticket, and the finding comes as the agency says it has begun returning money to concertgoers.
Say Agency representative Alexander Panin said investigators had “found no evidence of fraud because, in fact, there isn’t any.” The agency’s CEO and founder, Anna Subcheva, said law enforcement officers had received answers to their questions and suggested they were satisfied with the responses. The account of the prosecutors’ finding and the officials’ response was reported by Meduza on October 14.
The concerts had been scheduled for October 10 and 11 at Gazprom Arena. Say Agency said more than 100,000 tickets had been sold. The stadium’s representatives said in September there was no agreement to rent the venue for the shows and that they would not take place. Say Agency later announced that the concerts were canceled, and listings for the Russia shows disappeared from West’s website.
After the cancellation, ticket buyers sought refunds and also demanded compensation for travel costs and emotional distress, according to the report. Say Agency said it began processing refunds in October. The company’s statements about the investigators’ conclusions are the information available in the report; it does not include a public document from prosecutors detailing the review.
Refunds After the Concert Cancellation
The reported finding addresses the fraud concern raised by a ticket buyer’s complaint, but it does not resolve the practical questions facing customers who paid for the shows. Their immediate concern is whether they will receive the ticket price back and whether any additional compensation will be provided. Say Agency says refunds began in October, while demands for travel expenses and emotional-distress compensation were also made.
The case also highlights the distinction between the legal inquiry and the venue dispute. Say Agency representatives say prosecutors found no evidence of fraud; separately, Gazprom Arena said there was no rental agreement for the concerts. The reported prosecutorial finding does not, by itself, establish why the shows were canceled or settle claims between the organizer and ticket holders.
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How the St. Petersburg Shows Fell Through
The concerts were announced for Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg, but the proposed visit drew opposition after it became public. Lawmakers and pro-war activists spoke against West’s visit, and the Kremlin also discussed whether the concerts should proceed or be canceled, according to Meduza’s report. That political reaction preceded the venue’s statement that it had no agreement to host the shows.
News of a police and prosecutorial inquiry into the organizers emerged in late September, after a St. Petersburg resident who had purchased a ticket filed a complaint. The report does not describe the complaint’s full contents or the specific investigative steps taken. The concerts were subsequently canceled, leaving ticket buyers seeking refunds and, in some cases, broader compensation.
““Found no evidence of fraud because, in fact, there isn’t any.””
— Alexander Panin, Say Agency representative
Details of the Inquiry and Refunds
The report does not include a formal prosecutorial statement or written finding, nor does it specify which authorities conducted the review, its scope, or whether any further steps are planned. The conclusion is presented through Say Agency representatives, so the precise wording and basis of the authorities’ assessment are not independently set out in the available account.
It is also unclear how many ticket holders have received refunds, how long the process will take, or whether the agency will address claims for travel costs and emotional distress. The reported finding concerns whether investigators found evidence of fraud; it does not establish that every customer dispute has been resolved.
Refund Processing and Further Statements
The immediate next step for ticket buyers is the completion of refunds for canceled shows. Say Agency said it began issuing refunds in October, but the report gives no schedule, total paid back, or information about how customers should pursue additional compensation. No further hearing, deadline, or official announcement was identified in the report.
Any additional account from prosecutors could clarify what was reviewed and whether the inquiry is closed. Until then, the reported conclusion rests on statements from the organizer, while the cancellation’s venue arrangements and outstanding customer claims remain separate matters.
Key Questions
What did prosecutors reportedly find?
Say Agency representatives said prosecutors found no evidence of fraud in a review of the company. The report does not include a formal statement from prosecutors.
Why was the inquiry opened?
The inquiry emerged after a St. Petersburg resident who had bought a ticket filed a complaint. The report does not give the complaint’s full details.
When were the concerts supposed to take place?
West’s concerts were scheduled for October 10 and 11 at Gazprom Arena. The stadium said in September that it had no agreement to rent the venue for the shows.
Are ticket buyers getting refunds?
Say Agency said it began issuing refunds in October. The report does not say how many refunds have been completed or when the process will finish.
Will buyers receive travel or other compensation?
Ticket buyers reportedly sought compensation for travel expenses and emotional distress, as well as ticket refunds. The report does not say whether Say Agency has agreed to pay those additional claims.
Source: rss
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