Moscow hotels fined for jacking up prices for World Cup

MOSCOW - Russian consumer rights protection organization Rospotrebnadzor said Tuesday it had fined some hotels in Moscow for hiking prices by 103 percent to 570 percent for the duration of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

It said in a statement that its inspectors checked 603 entities providing hotel services and fined 198 as well as 181 officials.

The fines totaled 5.95 million rubles (around $106,000).

It said in a separate statement that before Tuesday, over 3,000 accommodation facilities were monitored and nearly 600 cases instituted, including 248 cases of price hike.

From Monday, the watchdog has set up a hotline for World Cup 2018 visitors to advise them on rooms prices and championship merchandise.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be held in 11 Russian cities from Jun 14 to Jul 15.