44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow

[JustinHorton]

Given that Putin is now wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court?

This may happen, and quite likely should happen, but as yet it very straightforwardly has not happened.

[Jonathan Bryant]

... Given that Putin is now wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court?

I'm not sure that's true yet. I know various instances have been referred to ICC - and I wouldn't be at all surprised that it ends up as you suggest - but I haven't yet seen anything that says he's actually "wanted" by them.

As for your general point that things can't possibly go back to how they were, I'd like to think you're right. But then again, I wouldn't at be at all surprised if the availability of Russian money - to FIDE, the British governing party and others - might help erase some memories.

I hope you're right though. I mean, can a Russian Chess federation that includes the Russian Defence Minister* on the board (https://twitter.com/PHChess/status/1498900801124720641) be acceptable in polite society any longer?

Of course, as of now Russian chess - either teams/individuals/the federation at large - are not suspended from FIDE so there's nothing to come back from.




* the actual Defence Minister, not that knobber Karjakin

[NickFaulks]

if the statutes are meant to say that a host federation may bar members of another federation because of political or ethical disapproval, why not say so plainly?

Particularly when 4.4 says the opposite, as plainly as anyone could ask.

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi Nick,

A player currently a member of the Russian Chess Federation.

I'm not up for any banning any of them but FIDE has to follow suit till this terrible mess is over with.
Wars end when the talking starts, sporting links help to path the way. Severing them to put
pressure on the Russian people to in turn apply pressure to Putin is the long game.

Hi Justin,

Quite rightly FIDE will not be able to justify any ban on ' political or ethical' reasons. But the 'exception' does
mention war and a conflict. FIDE will try to be seen not to be taking sides but this is truly an awful situation.

[JustinHorton]

Quite rightly FIDE will not be able to justify any ban on ' political or ethical' reasons. But the 'exception' does
mention war and a conflict.

Did you consider addressing the objection I made to that contention

[NickFaulks]

Hi Nick,

A player currently a member of the Russian Chess Federation.

But they won't be that, that's the point. They will be playing under a different flag, so you can only get them for being Russian citizens, or having Russian names, or maybe just looking Russian.

But the 'exception' does mention war and a conflict.

That exception is specific to FIDE's own events. There is positively no exception to the broader 4.4. This may of course be a mistake, but it doesn't look good so say you're not allowed to discriminate against certain groups of people unless you really, really want to.

[JustinHorton]

Incidentally, though it's not the whole point, we are going to be in the position of punishing Russians for being Russians, as a result of war that while it is being carried out in their name, it's not even clear that most of them actually support! (On the day of the invasion I saw a Guardian report from Russia stating that support for an invasion stood at 45 per cent. I have no idea of the reliability of that figure nor whether things have changed in either direction since, but it struck me as a seriously low figure on which to go to war.)

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi Nick,

Hopefully dethatching themselves from the Russian Federation will work
though from what I gather it has not done any good in the Paralympics.
FIDE must follow suit. I don't like it but can see no option.
Sanctions will only work if everyone against what is happening act together.

Hi Justin,

'Did you consider addressing the objection I made to that contention.'

Yes but I'm trying to look at it from FIDE's stance. They are in lose-lose situation.
My opinion does not really matter but I can see your point, it's murky.

The Russian people being punished for the actions of their government is the only option.
The plan is they will get Putin out or at the very least bring him to the table to discuss a cease fire.
The only other alternative, a counter invasion, is unthinkable.

[Chris Goodall]

The Russian people being punished for the actions of their government is the only option.
The plan is they will get Putin out or at the very least bring him to the table to discuss a cease fire.
The only other alternative, a counter invasion, is unthinkable.

It's sad. The modern breed of dictator will always arrange his country so that it's impossible to hurt the dictator without hurting millions of innocents in the process. The hostage-taker mentality.

[NickFaulks]

It's sad. The modern breed of dictator will always arrange his country so that it's impossible to hurt the dictator without hurting millions of innocents in the process. The hostage-taker mentality.

I think you'll find this concept goes back several thousand years.

[Jonathan Bryant]

Meanwhile ...

Following announcements from Norway and London individually, The Grand Chess Tour say
https://grandchesstour.org/blog/ukraine

we believe Grandmaster Karjakin's actions are such that we can no longer associate our organization with him

and

It is our firm decision not to invite him or any other chess players that support the on-going war in Ukraine to participate in upcoming and future Grand Chess Tour events.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Incidentally, though it's not the whole point, we are going to be in the position of punishing Russians for being Russians, as a result of war that while it is being carried out in their name, it's not even clear that most of them actually support! (On the day of the invasion I saw a Guardian report from Russia stating that support for an invasion stood at 45 per cent. I have no idea of the reliability of that figure nor whether things have changed in either direction since, but it struck me as a seriously low figure on which to go to war.)

There is a poll being cited today claiming to show two thirds of Russians support this "war that isn't a war, no really honestly".

But its full reliability is being questioned for a variety of reasons.

[Mick Norris]

The Winter Paralympics is different I think as the competitors are representing their country

Reports are that some of the Russians said "we are bombing your homes " to the Ukrainians, which accounts for why the other competitors were refusing to compete against the Russians

[Ian Thompson]

There is a poll being cited today claiming to show two thirds of Russians support this "war that isn't a war, no really honestly".

But its full reliability is being questioned for a variety of reasons.

... such as https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60600487

[Chris Goodall]

There is a poll being cited today claiming to show two thirds of Russians support this "war that isn't a war, no really honestly".

But its full reliability is being questioned for a variety of reasons.

... such as https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60600487

Yiiiiikes. Don't let the socialists get to your children; they'll still be looking over their shoulders 40 years later.