Skip to content
Edit post

Russia's global chess ban upheld, move hailed as 'a victory for Ukraine'

by The Kyiv Independent news desk September 23, 2024 9:03 AM 2 min read
Illustrative close-up photo of a chess board (Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

The chess teams of Russia and Belarus are to remain banned from international competitions, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) ruled on Sept. 22.

Both countries were excluded from the federation in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

FIDE barred Russian and Belarusian flags from its events, but allowed players from Russia and Belarus to participate under the neutral FIDE flag.

During a meeting of the FIDE general assembly in Budapest on Sept. 22, 66 countries voted to support a last-minute proposal to consult the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow some Russian and Belarusian disabled and junior teams to participate in international chess events.

The delegates of 41 countries voted not to admit players at all, 21 voted to lift the ban entirely, and 27 abstained or were absent.

Those in support of the ban point to the fact Russia's chess federation is closely intertwined with its government and military – ex-Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov are both board members.

The FIDE Council now has the final say on a decision but is not expected to overturn the result.

Speaking to the BBC the head of the English Chess Federation Malcolm Pein described the vote as a "crushing defeat" for Russia.

The Ukrainian Chess Federation's Viktor Kapustin said the result was a "victory for Ukraine."

"Russia is an aggressor and invader, and the aggressor must be punished in all spheres of their life, including sport. It's important to keep the sanctions, or even strengthen them. For them to recognise their crimes," he added.

Zelensky latest to nudge Biden toward boosting Ukraine’s firepower during US trip
President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to be the latest world leader to nudge his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden in a face-to-face meeting into providing more firepower to Kyiv — key to a potential Ukrainian victory — and the crucial right to use it against Russia’s invading forces without restrictions. T…

News Feed

12:08 PM

Ukraine's NATO prospects depend on Trump, Zelensky says.

"Everything depends on the United States. If Trump is ready to see Ukraine in NATO, we will be in NATO, everyone will be in favor. If President Trump is not ready to see us in NATO, we will not be in NATO," President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists in Davos.
12:59 AM

Supervisory board extends arms procurement head's contract, initiates audit following proposed merger.

The contract extensions comes after Defense Minister Rustem Umerov walked back on plans to merge the Defense Procurement Agency and the State Logistics Operator into one agency, following a NATO statement said that the two agencies should be kept separate and two separate supervisory boards established "to perform their tasks and supporting their independence and anti-corruption policies."
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.