Russian hotels fined for raising prices ahead of 2018 FIFA World Cup

Russia, April 21: Russia's consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor reported on Friday that a total of 591 cases of inflating hotel accommodation prices had been registered across the country in host cities of the 2018 football World Cup.

Rospotrebnadzor said in its statement that as a result of the discovered violations, the agency imposed numerous penalties totalling almost six million rubles (about $97,800).

"A total number of 591 violations of hiking up accommodation prices were registered, while 135 cases were also reported in regard to hotels having no necessary certificates of compliance," the statement from the news agency said.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicks off in 55 days with the opening match in the Russian capital of Moscow.

The World Cup will take place in 11 Russian cities between June 14 and July 15 at 12 stadiums.