The U.S. State Department – Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs issued a statement ahead of the FIDE General Assembly vote on the proposal to remove suspension of the Russian and Belarusian chess federations.
The U.S. State Department sent a strong message: “While chess players in Ukraine are being killed by Russia’s forces, there is no place for the Russian and Belarusian flags at chess tournaments”, adding “We urge national chess federations to continue to #StandWithUkraine.”
Following Russiaโs brutal invasion of Ukraine in 2022, FIDE voted to suspend the Russian and Belarusian chess federations from international competitions. The U.S. strongly supports this decision which upholds the rights of neutral chess players from Russia and Belarus to compete as individuals without being pawns of the Kremlin and Belarusian regimes.
Earlier today, United States Ambassador to Ukraine, H.E. Bridget A. Brink, posted on her twitter account:
“United States opposes efforts to lift Russiaโs suspension from FIDE. Russiaโs suspension from this and other international competitions is a direct result of its brutal, ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.”
Voting on Kyrgyz/Russian proposal to reinstate Russian and Belarusian players in FIDE will take place during the FIDE General Assembly which is scheduled for 21-22 September, 2024.
European chess federations are strongly against lifting sanctions against Russia and Belarus. European Chess Union published a statement, requesting FIDE General Assembly to keep sanctions and further on, asked FIDE to demand Russian Chess Federation to cease any operations in Ukrainian territory. In case of non-compliance, ECU urges FIDE to suspend the Russian Chess Federation with the immediate effect.
World No1 Magnus Carlsen also supported Ukraine during the FIDE100 Gala Dinner, upon receiving the award for the greatest chess player. His federation, the Norwegian Chess Federation, officially rejected the Kyrgyz Chess Federation proposal, and the German Chess Federation published a press release, clearly stating that the German Chess Federation is against the return of the Russian and Belarusian chess players without restrictions. The President of the German Chess Federation Ingrid Lauterbach explained that the proposal to lift sanctions is absurd: โI think it is absurd that this application was even made, and now I hope that common sense prevailsโ.
