According to a report published by EUobserver on June 10, 2026, the European Commission has proposed adding Arkady Dvorkovich, the Russian president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), to the EU sanctions blacklist as part of its 21st round of sanctions against Russia. The proposal includes measures such as visa bans and asset freezes.
The European Commissionโs proposal states that Dvorkovich should be blacklisted due to his public support for the war in Ukraine and his role in the Russian Chess Federation (RCF). The proposal notes that the RCF has normalized the invasion by organizing chess tournaments in occupied Ukrainian territories.
While Dvorkovichโs name had been proposed for EU sanctions in the past, previous attempts were vetoed by the Hungarian government under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbรกn. However, following the April 2026 elections in which Orbรกn lost power to his pro-Western opponent, Pรฉter Magyar, EU officials have renewed their efforts to sanction high-profile Russian figures.
Commenting on the political shift on X, Peter Heine Nielsen, coach of former World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, stated:
“Last time, Hungary saved him, but with Szijjรกrtรณ no longer being foreign minister, Dvorkovich will have to look for help elsewhere.”
A potential EU visa ban poses a direct threat to Dvorkovichโs capacity to lead the Swiss-based international chess governing body. Because his role requires frequent travel to FIDE events within EU member states, European chess officials believe a ban would severely disrupt his daily management duties. Aleksi Olander, president of the Finnish Chess Federation, previously stated to EUobserver that an EU visa ban would likely make it “impossible for him to continue in his role.”
The sanctions proposal arrives at a critical time for Dvorkovich, who oversaw the return of Russian chess players to FIDE international events in December 2025. The legal and travel restrictions could severely impact his chances of re-election at the upcoming FIDE Congress, which is scheduled to take place in Samarkand this September.
Malcolm Pein wrote: “If this comes to pass and he still stands for FIDE President, I will stand against him.”
The situation has intensified further following recent internal friction within the Russian chess world. On June 9, RCF President Andrey Filatov publicly criticized Russian dissident and former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov in an online post, labeling him a “terrorist.”
FIDE is also Facing Legal Deadline Regarding Russian Chess Federation Sanctions
