Ukrainian-born chess grandmaster Sergei Karjakin is facing disciplinary action from the International World Chess Federation (FIDE) for expressing support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his military actions in his home country.
Karjakin, who earned the title of chess grandmaster at the age of 12 and seven months, making him the youngest grandmaster in history, was born during the end of the Soviet Union in Crimea, more specifically in Simferopol.
However, in 2009, when the young grandmaster was 19, he moved to Moscow and has since defended the colors of Russia at chess tournaments. He maintained support for his new homeland not only in 2014 during the annexation of Crimea, but also now that Russian troops have invaded Ukraine under the guise of a “peacekeeping mission”. Vladimir Putin in the open letter he wrote:
“I am addressing you in these difficult times when our country, led by you, is fighting for the safety of peaceful Russians in the Donetsk and Luhansk republics. It is fighting for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine against the current ruling regime, which threatens the security of Europe. where I grew up and learned to play chess and where my relatives still live.We have been waiting for eight years to save lives during the ongoing genocide of the Kiev regime.I express my full support to you, our Commander-in-Chief, in protecting the interests of Russia, our people, eliminating threats and peace be upon you. I wish you the tasks assigned to our brave army soon. “
The open letter provoked a wave of criticism in the world of chess and FIDE decided to act. The federation has announced that it will conduct proceedings before the disciplinary and ethics committee with Karjakin and another chess player, Sergei Shipov. She also announced that Russia and Belarus had been removed from the list of tournament host countries and that players from those countries could not participate in other tournaments under their flags.
In addition to exclusion from sporting events, Russia also faces economic sanctions:
TN.cz
