{"id":16854,"date":"2022-04-03T19:43:44","date_gmt":"2022-04-03T19:43:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chessandmind.com\/?p=16854"},"modified":"2022-05-06T15:41:26","modified_gmt":"2022-05-06T15:41:26","slug":"fide-charter-violated-persecution-of-chess-players","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chessandmind.com\/en\/fide-charter-violated-persecution-of-chess-players","title":{"rendered":"The greatest outrage in chess history: The persecution of the Russian chess players"},"content":{"rendered":"

The greatest outrage in chess history: The persecution of chess players by chess players<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n

Introduction<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has recently announced several measures against the Chess Federation of Russia, in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine. The FIDE council of February 27, canceled competitions scheduled in Russia. Former World Title contender, Segey Karjakin, was sanctioned for making public statements.[1]<\/sup> Former World Chess Champion, Anatoly Karpov, has been stripped of his title of \u201cFIDE Ambassador for Life\u201d.[2] <\/sup><\/p>\n

More recently, on March 16th<\/sup>, FIDE announced the suspension of the Chess Federation of Russia (CFR) and Belarus Chess Federations (BCF).[3] <\/sup>The purpose of this article is to show that FIDE violated its own Charter and regulation with these decisions.[4]<\/sup><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Contents:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
    \n
  • The FIDE Charter is the supreme rule of FIDE and cannot be superseded by any other regulation<\/span><\/li>\n
  • FIDE targetted chess players based on their political opinions, in violation of its Charter<\/span>\n
      \n
    • The FIDE Code of Ethics is only applicable to competitors during competition<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • FIDE executives did not follow legitimate procedure as specified in FIDE Charter<\/span><\/li>\n
    • FIDE must follow its own regulation and not the International Olympic Committee (IOC)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • FIDE violated the principle of neutrality and acted hypocritically<\/span><\/li>\n
    • FIDE disregarded its mission to promote chess and the right to play chess<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

       <\/p>\n

      The FIDE Charter is the supreme rule of FIDE and cannot be superseded by any other regulation<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

      Chapter 7 of the FIDE Charter reads as follows:<\/p>\n

      7.3.1 \u201cThe FIDE Charter<\/strong> contains the primary rules and the main principles of the organisation and cannot be superseded<\/strong> nor derogated by any other FIDE rule, regulation or decision.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

      7.11 \u201cAll FIDE members, organs and officials must observe FIDE rules and regulations.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

      In other words, no regulation can supersede the Charter, which must be followed by all organs and officials.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Article 2.4 of the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Code, by which Karjakin was sanctioned, declares:<\/p>\n

      2.4 \u201cTo the extent of any inconsistency or contradiction between the provisions of this Code read with its Appendix and the FIDE Charter, the relevant provisions of the FIDE Charter shall prevail.<\/strong>\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

      In conclusion, both the FIDE charter and the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Code point at the charter as the prevailing rule.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      FIDE targetted chess players based on their political opinions, in violation of its Charter<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

      FIDE targeted Sergey Karjakin and Segei Shipov for their political opinions. Eventually, they sanctioned Karjakin to six months off the board, forcing him to miss the most important tournament of a chess player\u2019s career: the Candidates Tournament that qualifies for the World Championship. However, FIDE charter specifies very clearly that no person can be discriminated on the basis of their political opinion:<\/p>\n

      4.4 \u201c<\/em>FIDE rejects any kind of discrimination against a country, private person<\/strong> or group of people<\/strong> on account of (\u2026) political opinions, or any other reason.<\/strong>\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

      FIDE documents state that Karjakin violated article 2.2.10 of the Ethics and Disciplinary commission:[1]<\/sup><\/p>\n

      2.2.10 \u201cDisciplinary action in accordance with this Code of Ethics will be taken in cases of occurrences which cause the game of chess, FIDE or its federations to appear in an unjustifiable unfavorable light<\/strong> and in this way damage its reputation.\u201d<\/em>[5]<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

      The fact is that Karjakin never mentioned FIDE or the game of chess in his statements. FIDE Council wrongly assumed that his public identity of a chess player was enough to sanction him on these grounds. The problem is that this interpretation allows FIDE to sanction any chess player based on their contrarian political opinions, which goes directly against FIDE Charter.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      The FIDE Code of Ethics is only applicable to competitors during competition<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

      We have already seen that the ban was against FIDE charter, to which all other FIDE rules are subordinated. Moreover, the regulation used was not applicable. Only competitors in FIDE tournaments are subject to the Ethics and Disciplinary Comission, but Karjakin made his statements in other public fora. The Code of Ethics reads as follows:<\/p>\n

      1.4 This Code of Ethics is applicable to:<\/span><\/p>\n