FIDE Sanctions on the Russian Chess Federation: A Closer Look at Promises, Delays, and Ethical Proceedings
The promise to lift sanctions on the Russian Chess Federation (RFC) has remained unfulfilled, according to statements by Andrei Filatov, head of the Russian Chess Federation (RSF). In a discussion about the matter, Filatov criticized the leadership of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) President Arkady Dvorkovich, suggesting the rhetoric and actions do not align. He recalled a moment two years prior at the FIDE Congress in Chennai when five countries supported removing the sanctions on the RSF. Filatov asserted that Dvorkovich did everything possible to block that outcome and proposed delegating the decision to the FIDE presidential council to resolve it swiftly. Yet, he noted there has been no progress or positive momentum on this front since then.
Filatov stressed that in contrast to the hoped-for lift, the opposite trend has emerged in the process. He pointed to decisions handed down by the FIDE Ethics Commission as evidence of a different direction. Filatov warned that a critical period is approaching, one in which Dvorkovich will be measured for the value of his words and actions and the promises tied to them.
Looking back to February 2022, FIDE allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under neutral status in international events. At the same time, the national teams of Russia and Belarus were barred from events under FIDE’s umbrella, and there were no official chess competitions held within those countries as part of the federation’s framework.
On June 7, 2024, the FIDE Ethics Commission announced the suspension of the RSF’s membership for two years. The commission explained that the RSF had incorporated regional federations within newly created areas of Russia. The suspension is scheduled to take effect sixty days after the decision was issued.
International federations have limited the participation of Russian and Belarusian players in tournaments in line with recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In a December 2023 interview, Dvorkovich explained to socialbites.ca that sanctions remained because FIDE did not want to clash with the chess federations and Olympic committees of other nations. He stressed that FIDE represents nearly 200 countries, and maintaining good relations with national Olympic committees is essential for many member entities. The approach was described as a balancing act to avoid aggravating tensions between national chess federations and their Olympic counterparts, with IOC guidance shaping FIDE’s stance.
In a separate note, the ethics commission had previously accepted claims related to the RSF that were later described as unfounded against Dvorkovich. This shifting dynamic underscores the challenging political terrain surrounding international chess governance and the consequences for players and federations alike.