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Police in St. Petersburg are investigating Moscow-based Say Agency, the organizer of Kanye West’s canceled October concerts, for possible fraud, Kommersant reported. More than 100,000 tickets were reportedly sold before the shows were scrapped amid political backlash.
Police in St. Petersburg are investigating the Moscow-based promoter behind Kanye West’s canceled Russian concerts for possible fraud, according to a report by the newspaper Kommersant cited by Meduza. The inquiry centers on Say Agency, which organized the scrapped shows and sold more than 100,000 tickets, according to the organizers’ own figures, before the concerts were pulled from the schedule.
According to Kommersant, which cited an anonymous source, police in St. Petersburg’s Petrogradsky district are conducting the inquiry. The information they gather will be passed to Moscow, where Russia’s Interior Ministry headquarters will decide whether there are grounds to open a criminal case. No criminal investigation has been opened at this stage, according to the report.
The inquiry followed a request from a member of the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly, who had received complaints from ticket buyers. West, who also performs as Ye, had been scheduled to play two concerts at Gazprom Arena on October 10 and 11, 2026. Tickets were priced between 9,000 and 160,000 rubles, and Say Agency said it sold more than 100,000 tickets in the first two days of sales — a figure that has not been independently verified.
The concerts collapsed after the announcement drew sharp backlash from Russian lawmakers and activists, who cited the rapper’s past remarks about Adolf Hitler and his use of Nazi symbols, and demanded that he publicly support Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine. On August 24, Gazprom Arena’s management said the concerts would not go ahead. Say Agency responded that the announcement and the start of ticket sales had been approved and that a contract with the musician had already been signed.
Stakes for Ticket Buyers and the Promoter
The reported inquiry raises the possibility of criminal liability for Say Agency if the Interior Ministry concludes there are grounds for a fraud case. For tens of thousands of ticket buyers, the police review represents a potential path to recourse after refund efforts stalled. Following the cancellation, buyers began demanding refunds from Say Agency, along with compensation for travel expenses and emotional distress — demands that go beyond the face value of tickets and that the agency has not publicly addressed.
The case also highlights the political sensitivity surrounding the concerts. The shows were scrapped not for commercial or logistical reasons cited by the promoter, but amid pressure from lawmakers and activists over West’s past statements and his stance on the war in Ukraine. Whether that political backlash or the promoter’s conduct is the focus of the fraud inquiry remains unstated in the report.
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Timeline of the Canceled Gazprom Arena Shows
The concerts were announced with ticket sales opening quickly; Say Agency said more than 100,000 tickets sold in the first two days. The announcement immediately drew criticism from Russian lawmakers and activists over West’s remarks about Hitler and use of Nazi symbolism, with some demanding he back the “special military operation.”
On August 24, Gazprom Arena management announced the concerts would not take place. Say Agency disputed the framing, saying the announcement and ticket sales had been approved and that a signed contract with West existed. On September 4, the arena reiterated that its October schedule included no concerts by foreign performers. On September 18, West’s Russian dates disappeared from his official tour schedule. Ticket refund demands followed, and the legislative assembly member’s complaint to police led to the current inquiry.
“The information they gather will then be sent to Moscow. Russia’s Interior Ministry headquarters will decide whether there are grounds to open a criminal investigation.”
— Anonymous source cited by Kommersant
Unverified Claims and Open Questions
The fraud inquiry is reported by Kommersant on the basis of a single anonymous source, and neither the St. Petersburg police nor the Interior Ministry has publicly confirmed the investigation. No criminal case has been opened, and it is unclear whether one will be.
Several key claims remain unverified: Say Agency’s statement that it sold more than 100,000 tickets, its assertion that a signed contract with West existed, and the reasons the arena withdrew. Whether any refunds have actually been paid to ticket buyers is also not established in the reporting, and West himself has not publicly commented on the Russian dates since they were removed from his tour schedule.
Decision Point at the Interior Ministry
According to the Kommersant report, the Petrogradsky district police will compile their findings and send them to Interior Ministry headquarters in Moscow, which will decide whether to open a criminal fraud investigation against Say Agency. That decision is the next milestone, though no timeline was given.
In parallel, ticket buyers’ demands for refunds and compensation remain unresolved. If a criminal case is opened, it could clarify the refund process; if not, buyers may be left to pursue claims through civil channels. Further statements from Say Agency, Gazprom Arena, or West’s representatives could also shed light on the dispute.
Key Questions
Who is being investigated?
Say Agency, a Moscow-based promotion company that organized Kanye West’s planned concerts in Russia, according to Kommersant. No criminal case has been opened yet.
Why were the Kanye West concerts in Russia canceled?
Gazprom Arena’s management said on August 24 the concerts would not go ahead, after backlash from lawmakers and activists over West’s remarks about Adolf Hitler and his Nazi symbolism, and demands that he support the ‘special military operation.’ Say Agency says the shows were approved and contracted.
How many tickets were sold?
Say Agency said it sold more than 100,000 tickets in the first two days of sales, at prices between 9,000 and 160,000 rubles. The figure comes from the organizer and has not been independently verified.
Will ticket buyers get refunds?
It is not yet clear. Buyers began demanding refunds plus compensation for travel and emotional distress after the cancellation. The police inquiry could influence the outcome, but no refund mechanism has been publicly confirmed.
Could this become a criminal case?
According to Kommersant’s source, Interior Ministry headquarters in Moscow will decide whether there are grounds to open a criminal investigation once it receives the findings from St. Petersburg police. No timeline was given.
Source: rss
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