“The FIDE General Assembly plans to consider the lifting of sanctions against the Russian Federation and Belarus on September 22 in Budapest”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
They call for continued suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from all international competitions, says the letter published on the government’s website on September 17.
“Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has killed more than 500 athletes and coaches, including 21 chess players. Two more chess players are considered missing,” the statement said.
Ukrainian officials emphasize that Russian and Belarusian sports organizations are an instrument of the state policy of these countries.
“Admitting them to the competition would mean legitimizing the war waged by these countries,” the letter says.
Earlier it became known that the General Assembly of FIDE (International Chess Federation) plans to consider the lifting of sanctions against the Russian Federation and Belarus on September 22 in Budapest.
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) in March 2022 banned Russia and Belarus from participating in its official competitions “until further notice”.
Subsequently, Moscow lost the right to host the World Chess Olympiad in 2022. Russian and Belarusian teams were forbidden to participate in it, even under a neutral flag. FIDE has officially terminated sponsorship contracts with Russian and Belarusian companies.
In December 2022, however, FIDE allowed Russians and Belarusians to compete under a neutral flag.