FIDE Ethics Commission expels Russian Chess Federation

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) Ethics Commission has found the Russian Chess Federation (RCF) and FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich in violation of FIDE's ethics and disciplinary code. As a result, the RCF has been expelled from FIDE membership, while Dvorkovich received a reprimand, RBC reports.

The decision was announced via a post on the social network X by Peter Heine Nielsen, coach of the 16th world champion Magnus Carlsen. Nielsen, alongside the Ukrainian Chess Federation and Ukrainian grandmaster Andriy Barishpolets, had filed a complaint with the FIDE ethics commission.

There were three counts in the accusation. The first concerned ties to individuals under international sanctions. Dvorkovich is on the board of trustees of the RCF, which includes Sergei Shoigu, Gennady Timchenko, Sergei Sobyanin, Mikhail Fridman, Konstantin Ernst and Alexander Zhukov. The chairman of the Board of Trustees is Dmitry Peskov.

The Ethics Commission ruled that the RCF's membership is suspended for two years, with the suspension being lifted after three years provided certain conditions are met. These conditions include abolishing the board of trustees, ensuring the resignation of individual board members under international sanctions within 60 days, and ceasing chess activities in Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, and Lugansk regions.

Dvorkovich stated to Match TV that the decision is not yet effective and will be appealed. He mentioned that many FIDE board members disagree with the decision and that the matter will be discussed at the FIDE general assembly in September, underscoring its significance for the global chess community.