ST. PETERSBURG, November 17. /TASS/. Russia’s culture expenses surged by a factor of twenty over the last decade, President Vladimir Putin said at the St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum.

"[We] increased expenses for culture by twenty times over the last ten years," the head of state said.

The 9th St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum is being held from November 16 to 18. TASS is the general information partner, the official press center operator, and the official photohost agency of the Forum.