The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has temporarily suspended the membership of the Chess Federation of Russia. The decision was announced on FIDE’s website.
The move comes after Russia failed to comply with a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The case dates to 2024. As the Russian business daily Kommersant recalls, FIDE that year stripped the Russian organization of its membership for two years following a complaint by the Ukrainian Chess Federation, which accused the Chess Federation of Russia of conducting “active operations” in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Russia challenged the decision, and FIDE ultimately replaced the suspension with a fine of 45,000 euros.
The Ukrainian federation appealed to CAS. The court found that the Russian organization’s activities had threatened Ukraine’s “territorial integrity” in violation of FIDE’s charter and regulations, ruled the fine insufficient, and ordered the Chess Federation of Russia to cease its activities in the occupied territories within 90 days — or face expulsion from FIDE for up to three years. The deadline passed on June 9.
FIDE stated the sanctions apply only to the Chess Federation of Russia and do not restrict individual chess players.
The International Chess Federation is headed by former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich.
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