In a major geopolitical development impacting global sports governance, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich has been officially included in the European Union’s 21st sanctions package. The decision marks a significant escalation in Brussels’ regulatory measures, directly targeting the high-profile Russian administrator who has headed the International Chess Federation since 2018.
Ahead of the official EU announcement, Arkady Dvorkovich addressed FIDE Council members, acknowledging that the sanctions could bring his tenure as FIDE President to an immediate end. Dvorkovich expressed his disagreement with the legal basis of the EU’s decision, characterizing it as unfair, while noting that contingency plans had already been put in place to protect FIDE’s operational and institutional stability.
FIDE announced Dvorkovich’s decision to suspend his powers: “I have decided to voluntarily suspend the exercise of my powers and duties as FIDE President with immediate effect and for as long as I remain subject to sanctions under the EU and Swiss laws and regulations. In accordance with the FIDE Charter, the duties of the President will be assumed by the FIDE Deputy President, the 15th World Champion, Viswanathan Anand.”
EU Statement of Reasons:
Arkady Dvorkovich has held senior positions in the Government of the Russian Federation. He was the assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev (2008-2012), Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation (2012-2018).
Since 2018, he has been the President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). His reelection to this position in 2022 was welcomed by the Kremlin as a “victory” for Moscow. In his position as President of FIDE Arkady Dvorkovich has publicly supported the annexation of Crimea and called occupied Ukrainian cities “new territories” of the Russian Federation.
Arkady Dvorkovich is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Chess Federation of Russia, together with the several individuals listed by the Union, including from the Government of the Russian Federation. Chess Federation of Russia organised and operated tournaments in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, including Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson regions. Arkady Dvorkovich plays one of the key roles in the Board of Trustees.
Therefore, Arkady Dvorkovich is supporting actions or policies which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, or stability or security in Ukraine.
