Azmai cleared by Spanish court

The saga unfolded on the last day of October, 2004, towards the end of the closing ceremony. FIDE Vice President GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili tried to mount the stage where the President of Kalmykia (and FIDE President) was wrapping things up. Azmaiparashvili was stopped by members of the Guardia Civil, manhandled, beaten and taken to prison. The charge was that the FIDE VP had attacked the guards, with a head butt, when they tried to stop him from getting on the stage. Azmaiparashvili was released from prison 24 hours later, but required to return to Mallorca for a court hearing. A full list of links describing the incident are given at the bottom of this page.

Spanish police officials tell the journalists in the press center in Calvià that Azmaiparashvili had provoked the action by attacking the security officers with a head butt to the mouth.

FIDE VP Zurab Azmaiparashvili after being released from prison in Mallorca

On July 22, 2005 the court hearing in Mallorca took place and Azmaiparashvili was cleared of all charges against himself. FIDE has prepared a press release on the subject which they are expected to publish shortly.

PRESS RELEASE

Athens, 22nd of July 2005

All charges dropped against
FIDE Vice President GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili

All criminal charges were dropped against FIDE Vice President GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili by the Palma court of justice in Mallorca, Spain, right before it was scheduled to take place today at noon.

The charges against FIDE Vice President GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili were made following an incident that took place at the end of the last FIDE Olympiad in Calvià, Spain, in October 2004. FIDE Vice President GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili was originally charged with assaulting the police and resisting arrest despite the fact that he was the one who was brutally assaulted by the Guardia Civil. Facing overwhelming evidence by the defence, all charges were promptly dropped before the commencement of the hearing.

FIDE supported GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili throughout this case. FIDE is very happy that the criminal case is now closed and once again looking forward to the “Gens Una Sumus” spirit of unity within the chess family.

The FIDE delegation at the court in Mallorca (left to right): Eydun Nolsoe, Paul Truong, Georgios Makropoulos, Morten Sand, Zurab Azmaiparashvili.

To this the Spanish Chess Federation has added

Spanish Chess Federation Press Release

The Spanish Chess Federation is pleased to communicate that, in accordance with latest information, the incident in which FIDE Vice-President Zurab Azmaiparashvili was involved during the closing ceremony of the Calvià Olimpiad 2004, has been liquidated today. The two parties implicated – the Spanish Police and Mr. Azmaiparashvili – have agreed to mutually withdraw the accusations, and therefore, the incident will no longer have any judicial implications.

The Spanish Chess Federation regrets the incidents deeply and we are glad that the image of the FIDE and its Directive Board has not been damaged. We understand that the agreed solution is the best for all parties, safeguarding the image of our sport.

Gens un sumus.

Previous articles on the Azmai Saga

Scandal in Calvià, FIDE vice president arrested 31.10.2004 The 36th Chess Olympiad ended with a bang. But not the fireworks we displayed in our previous report, but with the arrest of FIDE vice president Zurab Azmaiparashvili, who tried to get the attention of the organisers on the stage and was wrestled to the floor and dragged to jail by a group of security agents. Hard to believe, but unfortunately true.

Azmaiparashvili in the news; released from jail 01.11.2004 The bizarre scuffle during the closing ceremony of the Calvià Olympiad made various mainstream reports. We have press releases from the organizers and FIDE. Azmai has been released and an interview is forthcoming. For now we have some alarming pictures.

Zurab Azmaiparashvili's two days in prison 04.11.2004 FIDE vice president Zurab Azmaiparashvili was attacked by security guards. Two days later he was released by a Spanish judge and was able to return to his native Georgia. We spoke to the battered GM immediately after his release. Let us know your opinion or express your support. Here is Zurab's harrowing story.

Smoking gun in Azmaiparashvili case 05.11.2004 We've seen the before and after photos. Now we have some brutal "during" photos of the altercation between the FIDE VP and the Spanish police from Diario de Mallorca. Will this scandal lead to punitive action by FIDE against the Spanish organizers or federation? Time will tell. For now you can see these disturbing pictures.

The Azmaiparashvili Saga – your views 10.11.2004 The events at the end of the closing ceremony of the 36th Chess Olympiad stunned chess players all over the world. A FIDE vice president beaten and arrested? We returned from Calvià to find a barrage of letters from concerned readers – most in support of "Azmai", but some critical of his conduct in the affair. Take some time for a long but interesting read.

Smoking gun in Azmaiparashvili case 05.11.2004 We've seen the before and after photos. Now we have some brutal "during" photos of the altercation between the FIDE VP and the Spanish police from Diario de Mallorca. Will this scandal lead to punitive action by FIDE against the Spanish organizers or federation? Time will tell. For now you can see these disturbing pictures.