Order to cease regulation of chess activities across annexed regions within 90 days
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued its ruling on the long-running dispute concerning the activities of the Chess Federation of Russia (CFR) in territories internationally recognised as part of Ukraine. The case stems from events following Russia's organising of numerous tournaments under the CFR's authority in regions the United Nations General Assembly continues to regard as Ukrainian.
The legal challenge was initiated by Ukrainian grandmaster Andrii Baryshpolets and Danish grandmaster Peter Heine Nielsen, who documented nearly 3,700 tournaments held in these areas, alongside the registration of more than 6,000 players by the Russian Federation. Their complaint led to proceedings before FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission, which in June 2024 largely upheld their claims and warned the CFR of a potential two-year suspension.
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However, a subsequent appeal within FIDE reversed that position. While acknowledging that the CFR had breached Ukrainian sovereignty, the appeal body reduced the sanction to a €45,000 fine, rejecting the earlier recommendation of suspension.
This prompted a further appeal to CAS, rregarded as the highest authority in international sport for such disputes. For the appeal, Barshypolets and Nielsen teamed up with the Ukrainian Chess Federation (UCF) and received pro bono legal aid from Covington & Burling, a firm with offices in various cities of the United States, a number of European countries, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai and Dubai.
The first page of the TAS/CAS Arbitral Award | Read it in full
In its final ruling, published on Friday, CAS found the financial penalty to be insufficient in light of the seriousness of the violations. The panel criticised the CFR for a lack of contrition, for failing to consult FIDE, and for not allowing players in the affected regions to determine their own sporting affiliation. It also stated that the historical contribution of Russian chess bore no relevance to the case under consideration.
CAS has ordered the CFR to cease all chess-related activities within 90 days in Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Sevastopol. The federation must also publicly confirm that it has complied with these directives. Failure to do so would result in a suspension from international chess competitions for a minimum of three years.
The ruling places the Russian authorities in a position where compliance would entail withdrawing organisational control over chess activity in the contested regions, while non-compliance might lead to exclusion from the global chess framework.
In a brief statement, FIDE confirmed receipt of the CAS decision and indicated that it will examine the details in consultation with Swiss legal advisers and its Constitutional Commission. The governing body reiterated its intention to act in accordance with its statutes and to respect the outcome of the CAS proceedings.
Conclusions of the Arbitral Award by CAS
Read the full 51-page document...
The Chess Federation of Russia is sanctioned as follows:
(A) Within 90 days of the present decision, the Chess Federation of Russia shall cease to regulate chess activities and events in the city of Sevastopol and the regions of Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporozhye; and will issue announcements, including to the International Chess Federation, confirming that it has done so.
(B) In the event the Chess Federation of Russia fails to comply with paragraph (A) above, its membership with the International Chess Federation shall automatically be suspended, in terms of article 13.1(f) of the Ethics and Disciplinary Code (subparagraph entitled "Temporarily exclusion from membership"), for a period of three years; unless and until the Chess Federation of Russia complies to the satisfaction of the International Chess Federation with the content of paragraph (A) above, in which case its membership shall automatically resume.
(C) In the event the Chess Federation of Russia has paid €45,000 to the International Chess Federation in compliance with the Decision, the International Chess Federation shall return this amount without delay.
Press release by FIDE
Published on the official FIDE website...
FIDE confirms receipt of the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding the appeal related to the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission proceedings in Case 11/2023.
The Court, after having carefully examined the positions of all the parties and the different arguments exposed, has dismissed the appeal filed by UCF against FIDE president Mr Arkady Dvorkovich.
Regarding the other aspects of the decision, FIDE will carefully study the details and conduct consultations with Swiss legal counsel and the FIDE Constitutional Commission in order to determine the appropriate steps for implementation in accordance with the FIDE Charter.
FIDE remains fully committed to respecting the decisions of the Court of Arbitration for Sport and acting in full compliance with the FIDE Charter and regulations.
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