The links between world chess and Russia's war machine (By DARIA MESHCHERIAKOVA)

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"Three years after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, one of Russia’s top players has become a vocal propagandist for the Kremlin’s war, even personally delivering military equipment to the front line. Facing him, not across 64 black and white squares but over the gaping divide that separates Putin’s supporters from the rest, are the most famous grandmaster of all time and the coach of the world’s current best player, who rail against the president’s behavior."

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www.politico.eu/article/how-vladimir-putin-uses-chess-arkady-dvorkovich/

Interesting article, thanks for posting it.

It has this line in it . . . "“FIDE today is an instrument of Russia’s geopolitical work,” Oleksandr Kamyshin, head of the Ukrainian Chess Federation.", but later on in the article it talks about FIDE's "landmark ruling" last year against the Russian Chess Federation and then how that punishment was reduced on appeal. So it doesn't sound like Russia completely dominates FIDE in the way the Ukrainian chess person is saying. It sounds more like FIDE is contested territory between pro and anti-Russian factions.

There is no doubt that Karyakin is a Putin loyalist. I didn't realise until quite recently that he is about the same age as Magnus Carlsen and still young enough to at least make the next candidates tournament. Of course, he won't be doing that as he is refusing to play unless he is allowed to do so under the Russian flag. I think on this issue only, he has a point. If Russian players have to play under the FIDE banner then why are not Israeli, US and UK chess players similarly penalised? After all, they are currently participating in a genocide in Palestine. Reeks of double standards if you ask me.

I really do not understand why this article does not fit to „general chess topics“ (where I had posted it today) and had to be moved by a moderator to „Everything that isn't related to chess“.

One can find arguments for or against, but I think it is really impossible to state that this article „isn't related to chess“.