MOSCOW, March 6 (RAPSI) – The sum of fines imposed for corruption offences reached over 1.3 billion rubles ($23 million) in 2017, Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office reported Tuesday.

As compared to 2016 the amount of fines increased by a third, the statement reads.

According to prosecutors, over 500 administrative cases over illegal gratification on behalf of a business were opened last year. As a result, 464 companies were fined more than 950 million rubles (about $17 million).