Is FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich About To Be Sanctioned?

The world is marking four years since Russia launched its bloody full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

It is a poignant moment for millions of people affected.

But one man may be breathing a sigh of relief right now: FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich. Albeit, not necessarily for long.

The man charged with running the world governing body of chess was, according to reports, on the brink of being included the EU's 20th sanctions package, intended to mark four years since Russian tanks rolled in.

That was until his Hungarian friends stepped in.

Reports first emerged last week that Dvorkovich was in danger following documents leaked to the website EUObserver.

It was claimed the EU sees Dvorkovich as having championed Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the return of Russian players to international games.

Dvorkovich's job is to put his Russian nationality and former career as a politician in Russia aside to run FIDE with impartiality. Including him on a sanctions list would suggest the EU doesn't believe he's done that.

Indeed, he certainly seemed to be in patriotic mood when he was pictured attending the Winter Olympics in Italy last week.

Dvorkovich has already been placed on one sanctions list this month: Ukraine's. He is unlikely to be bothered by that. But being sanctioned by the EU is something different entirely.

The implications are very serious both for Dvorkovich as a private individual and also more widely for the world of chess.

Remember Kirsan?

The game has been here before, of course. Sanctions practically killed off the presidency of Dvorkovich's predecessor Kirsan Illyumzhinov, who was listed by the U.S. in 2015. It's not an episode the federation—or anybody—wants to happen again.

If it did come to pass again that the president of FIDE was to face financial and travel restrictions, it would undoubtedly affect FIDE's ability to operate. FIDE's head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland, and many top tournaments Dvorkovich is expected to travel to are in the EU.

Dvorkovich is also facing re-election later this year at the next FIDE Congress. How could federation delegates possibly re-elect a figurehead blacklisted in so many countries? OK, on second thought, that's something FIDE members probably could do...

Jokes aside, it must be emphasised at this point that World Chess has not been able to independently verify whether Dvorkovich's name was indeed on the list. We have not seen the EU documents, and we have received no response from FIDE when we asked for confirmation or denial. But we have heard from insiders who believe it to be true.

FIDE's Response

While FIDE did not respond to us, FIDE did issue a stern response to EUobserver. FIDE described claims Dvorkovich participated in organising chess events in territories of Ukraine controlled by Russia, as well as assertions that he "championed" Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as "factually inaccurate."

It is worth noting that FIDE didn't state whether it expected Dvorkovich to be sanctioned or not, or deny that it is a possibility.

As it stands, Dvorkovich is not currently being sanctioned—primarily because of widely-publicised opposition to the full package from Hungary. But while the package may eventually be agreed, it has also been reported that Hungarian politicians specifically tried to get Dvorkovich's name off the list.

Why would that happen?

The 53-year-old Dvorkovich, a former deputy prime minister of Russia, is a man who has friends in high places.

Will He, Won't He?

As the figurehead for the 200-nation world governing of chess, it is to be expected—even encouraged—to have powerful political friends. Depending on who they are, of course.

This was apparent when Dvorkovich visited Hungary for the 2024 FIDE Olympiad in Budapest. Dvorkovich spent part of his time in Hungary schmoozing the EU-nation's top politicians, including prime minister Viktor Orbán and foreign minster Péter Szijjártó.

We know because he told us on the eve of FIDE's flagship international tournament that he attended a football match where they were present. It's his job, after all.

Nearly a year-and-a-half on, it appears Dvorkovich can thank his friends in Hungary for stepping in. For now.

What happens next depends on the EU. Meanwhile, the chess world is holding its breath.