At the start of the debate, Russian FIDE President Arkady Dvovkovich recused himself from chairing the General Assembly and participating in the discussion in order to preserve neutrality in accordance with the FIDE Charter. FIDE vice-president Viswanathan Anand (India) assumed the presidency.
Delegates from Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine presented their positions, which were followed by a statement from the FIDE Council, read by Viswanathan Anand:
After careful consideration, the majority of the FIDE Council has concluded that the current circumstances do not provide sufficient grounds to support the motions of the Kyrgyz Chess Union. We also remain mindful of the wider international context and each federation’s relationship with their National Olympic Committees.
At the same time, the Council recognizes the need for a balanced and humanitarian approach. We therefore recommend that the General Assembly consider supporting a partial review of restrictions, allowing vulnerable groups to – such as disabled players and children under the age of 12 – to participate in all FIDE events. This would be done in close consultation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), to ensure alignment with their principles.
We believe this approach confirms FIDE’s commitment to inclusivity while respecting the international framework.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
After another round of discussions, during which delegates from the various federations presented their points of view, the FIDE General Assembly proposed three options for the vote:
1. After careful consideration, the majority of the FIDE Council concluded that the current circumstances do not provide sufficient grounds to support the motions of the Kyrgyz Chess Union. The General Assembly requests the FIDE Council to consult with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), regarding the possibility of a partial review of the restrictions, allowing vulnerable groups – such as disabled players and children under 12 – to participate in all FIDE events.
2. To recommend to the FIDE Council that all current restrictions relating to the chess federations of Russia and Belarus remain in force.
3. To recommend to the FIDE Council to lift all current restrictions related to the Russian and Belarus Chess Federations.
The General Assembly adopted the first option by 66 votes. Option 2 was supported by 41 federations, while option 3 received 21 votes. Eleven countries abstained.
