MOSCOW, September 7 (RAPSI) – Russian government has submitted a bill establishing administrative liability for violating regulations concerning sale and refund of tickets for public cultural events to the State Duma, the statement of the Cabinet of Ministers reads.

A fine for reselling a ticket at a price higher than the one stated may reach 300,000 rubles ($4,300) for citizens; 400,000 rubles ($5,800) for officials; 500,000 rubles ($7,200) for entrepreneurs; one million rubles ($14,500) for companies.

The government notes that due to lack of fines for refund of tickets for public cultural events, there is a problem of unscrupulous buyers, who buy tickets only to resell them at a higher price. If such a buyer fails to sell the ticket, he or she returns it to an event organizer for a full cost reimbursement. As a result, event organizers lose money because it is unlikely that a returned ticket could be sold at the date of an event.

Moreover, in another bill the government proposes to allow sales of tickets only by organizations of cultural status. The bill also establishes a framework for return of tickets and appropriate reimbursement.