The European Union has adopted its 21st package of sanctions against Russia in response to the country’s continuing invasion of Ukraine. The package adds 48 individuals and 170 entities to the EU sanctions list. Among them is FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.
The EU sanctions include:
- Asset freeze: All funds and economic resources located in the EU or controlled by EU persons are frozen. Listed individuals and entities may not access or use these assets.
- Prohibition on making funds or economic resources available: EU citizens, companies and financial institutions are generally prohibited from making funds or economic resources available, directly or indirectly, to listed individuals or entities. This includes, among other things, payments, loans, goods and services, unless a specific exemption or authorisation applies.
- Travel ban: Listed individuals are generally prohibited from entering or transiting through EU member states.
- Financial sector: The 21st sanctions package expands restrictions on Russian banks and certain crypto-asset service providers. Transaction bans apply to numerous institutions, and many banks have also been excluded from the SWIFT payment system.
- Energy and industrial sectors: The sanctions target, among others, companies in the defence and energy industries, oil traders, refineries and operators of the so-called shadow fleet. In addition, further vessels have been made subject to port access and service bans.
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Arkady Dvorkovich, the son of a well-known chess arbiter, served as one of five personal advisers to the President of the Russian Federation from 2008 to 2012. He then served as one of Russia’s Deputy Prime Ministers until 2018. From 2006 to 2009, Dvorkovich was a member of the board of the Russian Football Union and later headed the organisation of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In the same year, he was elected President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
In response to the EU’s decision, Arkady Dvorkovich has temporarily stepped aside from his position. Under the FIDE Statutes, Deputy President Viswanathan Anand now serves as Acting FIDE President, at least until the election of a new Presidential Board in September, which will take place on the sidelines of the Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan.
The EU sanctions are certain to affect the FIDE presidential elections in September in one way or another. Arkady Dvorkovich is standing for re-election, but it is difficult to imagine how he could continue to serve while remaining on the EU sanctions list. The other declared candidates for the presidency are Henric Büttner and Vadim Rosenstein.
The last time FIDE had to deal with the consequences of international sanctions was during the presidency of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. After Ilyumzhinov was placed on the US Treasury’s sanctions list as a co-owner of a Russian bank that was alleged to have financed oil transactions involving Syria and ISIS, FIDE’s bank account was closed. The federation was subsequently unable to open a new account with any bank in any country. As a direct consequence, Ilyumzhinov was forced to step down as FIDE President.
On Thursday evening (23 July), Arkady Dvorkovich published the following statement on the FIDE website regarding the sanctions imposed on him:
Today, the EU decision to include my name in the 21st sanctions list was published. I want to state unequivocally that I consider this decision unlawful and unfair, and this decision will be immediately challenged by all possible means. I am confident that justice will prevail.
However, given that until a formal court decision is rendered and/or such decision is cancelled or amended, these sanctions could hinder the stable functioning of FIDE, I have decided to voluntarily suspend the exercise of my powers and duties as FIDE President with immediate effect and for as long as I remain subject to sanctions under the EU and Swiss laws and regulations. In accordance with the FIDE Charter, the duties of the President will be assumed by the FIDE Deputy President, the 15th World Champion, Viswanathan Anand.
I would like to emphasize that I believe in the FIDE Council and I am confident that the FIDE Council and administration will overcome all challenges and do the utmost to safeguard the continuous work of FIDE, its events and social programs.
Taking into account the statement above, the FIDE Council has decided the following:
The FIDE Council accepts and ratifies the decision of Mr. Arkady Dvorkovich to suspend the exercise of his rights, duties and prerogatives as President of the FIDE. Accordingly, Mr. Dvorkovich will not exercise the responsibilities, duties, rights and prerogatives provided by the FIDE Charter, particularly article 18 of the FIDE Charter, and other regulations as long as the measures provided by the “Ordonnance instituant des mesures en lien avec la situation en Ukraine” and the EU Regulations No 269/2014, are in force. Specifically, Mr. Dvorkovich shall not act in the capacity of “détenteur de contrôle” (“owner, holder or controller”) of FIDE or its assets.
In accordance with article 19.2 of the FIDE Charter, Mr. Anand Viswanathan, Deputy President of FIDE, shall act as Interim President as long as Mr. Dvorkovich is subject to the restrictive measures provided by the Swiss and EU laws and regulations in force.
FIDE…