Statements of US Department of State and US Embassy in Kyiv regarding FIDE General Assembly

The FIDE General Assembly has reached a historic moment, which can decide the future direction of the chess community. After Kyrgyzstan Chess Federation submitted a resolution to restore the full membership rights of RCF, chess fell in immediate danger of falling under IOC sanctions which directly puts national federations at risk of losing government funding.

The issue also has the human point of view, which Vasyl Ivanchuk and the Olympic teams of Ukraine protested and Kasparov and Carlsen noted.

Now, the issue with chess has reached US authorities. Malcolm Pein says, “The temperature in FIDE just went up a notch” as statements by US Department of State and US Embassy in Kyiv arrived.

The US Department of State says, “Following Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine in 2022, FIDE
voted to suspend the Russian and Belarusian chess federations from international competitions. The U.S. strongly supports this decision which upholds the rights of neutral chess players from Russia and Belarus to compete as individuals without being pawns of the Kremlin and Belarusian regimes.”

Following Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine in 2022, @FIDE_chess voted to suspend the Russian and Belarusian chess federations from international competitions. The U.S. strongly supports this decision which upholds the rights of neutral chess players from Russia and Belarus to… pic.twitter.com/d7U70Y4Yyq

— Educational & Cultural Affairs—U.S. Dept. of State (@ECAatState) September 20, 2024

🇺🇸Statement from @SportsDiplomacy @ECAatState today for those tracking in the chess world. 🧵

Following Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine in 2022, @FIDE_chess voted to suspend the Russian and Belarusian chess federations from international competitions.

— Eileen Carey (@eileenmcarey) September 20, 2024

The US Ambassador in Kyiv Bridget A. Brink spoke on the issue. “The United States opposes efforts to lift Russia’s suspension from FIDE. Russia’s suspension from this and other international competitions is a direct result of its brutal, ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.”

The United States opposes efforts to lift Russia’s suspension from @FIDE_chess. Russia’s suspension from this and other international competitions is a direct result of its brutal, ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

— Ambassador Bridget A. Brink (@USAmbKyiv) September 20, 2024

Aug 21 Kyrgyzstan Chess Federation submits resolution to restore the full membership rights of RCF

Aug 22 David Llada talks about systematically to reward submission

Sept 1 Alexander Kamyshin is the new President of Ukrainian Chess Federation

Sept 7 Babur Tolbaev is among the candidates for FIDE Ethics Commission chairman

Sept 9 Russia most probably has the votes to pass the Kyrgyz resolution

Sept 9 Kamyshin: I will personally attend the FIDE General Assembly

Sept 12 Garry Kasparov supports Alexander Kamyshin

Sept 12 Malcolm Pein for BBC, “Russia’s control of FIDE is absolute”

Sept 16 Vasyl Ivanchuk and the Olympic teams of Ukraine protest against Kyrgyz motion

Sept 17 FIDE Congress – national federations at risk of losing government funding

Sept 18 FIDE Council rejects Russian / Kyrgyz proposal

Sept 19 Magnus Carlsen: I would have voted against the Russian/Kyrgyz proposal to lift sanctions on Russia

Sept 19 Kasparov: I would say the same on the Russian/Kyrgyz proposal

Sept 20 First reaction by Chess Federation of Russia

Sept 20 Vice President Of CFR: Magnus should return all his money that he earned in Russia (+Filatov statement)

Sept 20 A dark horse in FIDE Ethics Commission elections