Arkady Dvorkovich, the president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), has suspended his activities with the organization following his inclusion on the European Union’s latest sanctions list. Dvorkovich, 54, a former Russian deputy prime minister and Kremlin adviser, announced he would voluntarily suspend the exercise of his powers and duties, though he stated he has not resigned.
The European Union’s 21st package of sanctions against Russia, published on Thursday, targets 218 individuals and entities. The EU cited Dvorkovich’s public support for the annexation of Crimea and his characterization of occupied Ukrainian cities as new territories
of the Russian Federation as reasons for the designation. The EU also noted his position on the board of the Chess Federation of Russia, which has organized tournaments in occupied areas of Ukraine. As a result of the sanctions, Dvorkovich faces an EU travel ban and an asset freeze.
Dvorkovich, who was first elected FIDE president in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, described the sanctions as unlawful and unfair.
He further alleged that the measures were intended to prevent me from running and serving for Fide.
Leadership Transition and Interim Presidency
In accordance with Article 19.2 of the FIDE Charter, the federation’s deputy president, five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, has assumed the presidency on an interim basis. Anand confirmed on Friday that he had taken up these responsibilities and thanked Dvorkovich for prioritizing the federation’s interests.
The leadership change has sparked immediate movement regarding the future of the FIDE presidency. Following his suspension, Dvorkovich announced he would not seek re-election. The Chess Federation of Russia subsequently endorsed Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who had declared his candidacy on 20 July. Ilyumzhinov, who previously served as FIDE president for twenty-three years, had also been considered by the Chess Federation of Russia’s Supervisory Board on 5 June, at which time the board chose to support Dvorkovich.
Other candidates have emerged in the race for the federation’s leadership. These include the Russian-German businessman Wadim Rosenstein, owner of WR Logistics, and German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner, known for organizing Freestyle Chess events.
Geopolitical Stakes in International Chess
The inclusion of Dvorkovich on the sanctions list has been welcomed by Ukrainian officials. Volodymyr Kovalchuk, first vice president of the Ukrainian Chess Federation, stated, We hope never to see this man in the chess world again,
adding that individuals who develop sport in the interests of an aggressor state should not hold senior international positions. Malcolm Pein, England’s representative to FIDE, characterized the development as an earthquake and a massive diplomatic victory for Ukraine.
Pein suggested the move could diminish Russian influence in the sport, noting that the Soviet Union and subsequently Russia have utilized chess as a tool of “soft power” since the Second World War. Concerns regarding Russian influence within FIDE have persisted throughout the conflict in Ukraine. While Russian national teams were banned from international chess competitions following the full-scale invasion four years ago, critics have alleged a “slow takeover” of the federation by Moscow, an accusation Dvorkovich has denied.
Dvorkovich maintained that claims of Russian influence are false and contradicted by how Fide is governed,
emphasizing that the federation is based in Switzerland and its executive team includes representatives from countries including India, Norway, Latvia, the US, Italy, and France.
Impact of the 21st EU Sanctions Package
The broader sanctions package announced by the EU targets a wide array of Russian interests, bringing the total number of designations to nearly 3,000. Key components of the measures include:
* Financial Sector: A full asset freeze on 94 Russian financial institutions and the disconnection of 33 Russian banks from the Swift international payments system. * Energy and Industry: The Russian oil price cap is frozen at $44.10 per barrel for 12 months, and the package targets more than 50 military-industrial entities. * Infrastructure: Sanctions now apply to Moscow’s stock exchange and actors linked to a Russian satellite communications system. * Global Reach: Measures target banks and cryptocurrency operators in countries including Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, India, Georgia, Panama, the Marshall Islands, Belarus, the United Arab Emirates, and nations across Africa.
The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, stated that the sanctions also target more than 100 banks, cryptocurrency operators, and over 40 vessels from Russia’s “shadow fleet,” as well as several oil refineries.
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