Russian state companies spent millions of dollars on VIP FIFA World Cup tickets

Russian state companies coughed up almost 200 million rubles ($3.2 million) for VIP tickets to games at this summer’s FIFA World Cup, according to the magazine RBC, which analyzed records from 13 state procurement contracts.

Enterprises under the VTB umbrella accounted for more than half of all spending. Most of the tickets were purchased in so-called “hospitality packages” that include box seats, restaurant and bar service, parking, souvenirs, and personal hostess services. The other big spenders were Sberbank, Zarubezhneft, the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK), and Russia’s Foreign Ministry. The FIFA World Cup begins on June 14 and ends on July 15.