Join the Petition to Remove Arkady Dvorkovich from the FIDE Presidency
GM Andrii Baryshpolets has recently published on Change.org a petition to remove Arkady Dvorkovich from the FIDE Presidency. Please, join and forward the link to all your friends and chess mates. The chess community needs to speak out!
Here is the text of this petition:
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The International Chess Federation (FIDE), which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a Global Sporting Organization, is the only international sports federation that is run by a representative of the aggressor country. For decades, the Russian Federation has been using FIDE as a soft power to whiten its reputation. It continues to do so amid its military aggression against Ukraine.
Current FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich is a Russian politician who is known for his strong ties to the Putin's regime. In 2008-2012, Arkady Dvorkovich was an Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation and in 2012-2018 was Deputy Prime Minister in Dmitry Medvedev's Cabinet.
The predecessor of Dvorkovich, another Russian politician - Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was President of FIDE from 1995 to 2018. In 2015, the United States Department of the Treasury (USDT) sanctioned Networks Providing Support to the Government of Syria, Including For Facilitating Syrian Government Oil Purchases from ISIL; and designated K. Ilyumzhinov for materially assisting and acting for or on behalf of the Government of Syria, Central Bank of Syria.
Due to its questionable reputation, FIDE has been struggling to attract sponsors and partners and has been financed mostly by the state-owned and private Russian companies. Moreover, FIDE keeps its accounts in Russian banks that are already under sanctions. Namely, Sberbank, Otkrytie bank and Gazprombank.
By this petition, we demand resignation of Arkady Dvorkovich and cutting all FIDE financial and political ties with the aggressor country, the Russian Federation.
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I agree with each word in this statement. Are you not yet sure why Dvorkovich has to step down?! In a couple of days you'll get more arguments and evidence.
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