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[UPDATE: Bobby Fischer has been released according to AP and Reuters. Fischer has already given a radio interview in which he said American military and embassy employees should be banned from Iceland. A full report will follow later today.]
Last night the news from the Icelandic RJF Committee was tense. "There are critical hours/days ahead. As this very moment the Icelandic Ambassador in Tokyo is giving diplomatic notification of Fischer's new Icelandic citizenship to the Japanese authorities. We expect Bobby to be released any moment now, but that remains still to be seen and realized."
Then this morning an ecstatic message from Reykjavík: "Fantastic news, awesome! Bobby will be released at midnight GMT – in just 11 hours. The passed Fischer pawn has been shepherded home to the eighth rank, where it can be promoted into a piece, with complete freedom of movement."
On Wednesday John Bosnitch, Chairman The Committee to Free Bobby Fischer, supplied us further details: "On Thursday, March 24, 2005, Bobby Fischer will be released from the East Japan Immigration Detention Center in Ushiku, north of Tokyo, and he will drive to Narita Airport, to the east of Tokyo, for onward travel to his new home in Iceland. He will be joined by his fiancée, the women's chess champion of Japan, Ms. Miyoko Watai, who will fly to Iceland with him. They should be leaving the detention center at 9:00 AM Japan time and arrive at Narita Airport sometime after 10:00 AM. At the airport, we will be trying to give Bobby Fischer a chance to speak to the media sometime between 10:00 AM and 12:00 noon. He will be flying out of Tokyo's Narita Airport on the Scandinavian Airways flight to Copenhagen that leaves at 12:40 PM on Thursday.
The RJF Committee sent us documents and translations to document Fischer's Icelandic citizenship, as well as a photograph of his new passport.
The new Act concerning Bobby Fischer's Icelandic citizenship, which was passed by Althingi on Monday, has now taken effect. This was formally confirmed on Tuesday afternoon, 22 March, by the Prime Minister of Iceland, the President of the Supreme Court and the President of Althingi, in the absence of the President of Iceland, who is abroad. The Act, No. 16/2005, has also been published in the State News Letter Dóms- og kirkjumálaráðuneyti at 15.30 pm on Tuesday.
In pursuance there of a Letter of Citizenship to Mr. Robert James Fischer was issued, his name registered in the Icelandic National Registry and a new passport for him processed, which he can use world wide.
Einar S. Einarsson and Saemundur Palsson holding the citizenship document,
in front of the old “Detention Center” jailhouse in downtown Reykjavík
RJF new Icelandic passport is now with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. David Oddsson. It will either been sent with courier in a diplomatic mail to the Icelandic Embassy in Tokyo or given to Mr. Saemundur Palsson, who will lead a new delegation and camera crew from Iceland traveling to Japan to-morrow, with the purpose to escort Bobby Fischer to his new home land.
Saemi Palsson passing on the news to Fischer
English translations of the documents by Anna C.Benassí, state certified translator.
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 Bobby
Fischer: five days in solitary confinement08.03.2005 We had just reported about Fischer's new passport, which an Icelandic delegation had carried to Japan. A minor mystery was why it had not been handed over to him last Wednesday, as planned. Now we learn that Japanese authorities had put the former world champion into solitary confinement. For five days. Over a hard-boiled egg. We are not joking. |
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 Fischer
receives an Icelandic passport2/23/2005 Immigration authorities in Iceland have decided to issue full travel documents for former world champion Bobby Fischer, who is being held in Japanese detention for not possessing a valid passport. Fischer's new passport will be sent to Japan by diplomatic mail, and a delegation is traveling there to escort him to Iceland. |
 Fischer's
lawyer Masako Suzuki speaks out02.02.2005 Is Japan buckling under pressure by the US? Bobby Fischer, 61, former World Champion of Chess who has been jailed in Japan for six months now, is applying for Icelandic citizenship. But Tokyo seems to be balking at a constructive solution entailing his release to Iceland. Fischer's lawyer Masako Suzuki has given us an exclusive interview. |
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 RJF
Committee mobilizes pro-Fischer forces18.12.2004 While Bobby Fischer remains incarcerated in a Japanese prison a special committee in Iceland is moving to get him free and find him a home on the North-Atlantic island country. Iceland's foreign minister and a prominent political scientist have spoken out. Here's a report on Fischer's Iceland Connection... |
 Fischer
to get refuge in Iceland?12/16/2004 The news today on Bobby Fischer, who is currently being held in a Japanese detention facilities pending extradition to the US, is that the Icelandic government has offered to grant him a residence permit. In a telephone interview Fischer speaks about his plight in Japan and reacts to statements by Garry Kasparov on Fischer Random Chess. Full details... |
 Returning
to the 'scene of the crime'30.11.2004 Twelve years ago Boris Spassky played a match against Bobby Fischer in Yugoslavia. That got Fischer into a lot of trouble, while for Spassky, a French citizen, there were no repercussions. Now the tenth world champion returned to Belgrade to open the Belgrade Chess Trophy. Quick interview... |
 Fischer
to Bush and Koizumi: 'You are going to pay for this!'18.10.2004 Bobby Fischer, still in detention in Japan, has spoken out again in an interview, this time threatening the Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi and US President Bush: "You are going to pay for this, and you are going to pay for your crimes in Iraq too." His new lawyer, Richard J. Vattuone, plans to release documents to prove US government involvement in a plot against Fischer. |
 'We
want to live together forever'01.09.2004 She collected pictures of her chess hero after his match with Boris Spassky in 1972. One year later they met in Tokyo – the start of a romance spanning decades. Since four years the two have lived together in downtown Kamata in Tokyo's Ota Ward. In an exclusive interview for ChessBase Miyoko Watai tells us the story of her life with Bobby Fischer. |
 Listen
to Bobby Fischer26.08.2004 In emotional phone calls from his detention cell in Tokyo ex world champion Bobby Fischer gave a Philippine radio station two lengthy interviews. Fischer is facing deportation and incarceration in the US, and voices his nightmare fears: "I will be tried, convicted, sentenced, imprisoned, tortured and murdered." We have summary transcripts and audio files. |
 Dramatic
moments around Fischer's deportation25.08.2004 First the Japanese Justice Minister Daizo Nozawa issued a deportation order against former world champion Bobby Fischer's, then Fischer's lawyers filed a lightning appeal on the grounds that physical deportation would be a flagrant violation of Fischer's right to full legal recourse and protection under Japanese law. Here's the full story by Fischer's legal coordinator. |
 'Bobby
Fischer and I have decided to marry'17.08.2004 Bobby Fischer, the former world chess champion, plans to marry the president of the Japan Chess Association (and four-time Japanese women's champion) Miyoko Watai. This was reported in newspapers and wire services last night. Now Watai-san has sent us a statement explaining the background of her personal relationship with Fischer. |
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renounces US citizenship 15.08.2004 Bobby Fischer has been moved to a new detention facility in Tokyo, pending a decision on his deportation to the US, where he faces a 10-year jail sentence. A lot of new material has surfaced, including Fischer's handwritten renouncement of his US citizenship and a blow-by-blow description and picture of his arrest at Narita Airport. Harrowing stuff... |
 Spassky
to Bush: Arrest me!10.08.2004 Boris Spassky, who played the contentious return match against Bobby Fischer in Yugoslavia 1992, for which the latter is currently facing deportation and incarceration in the US, has appealed to President Bush to show mercy and charity for his tormented successor. If for some reason that should be impossible, Spassky suggests a very imaginative alternative... |
 Fischer's
appeal rejected28.07.2004 Bobby Fischer's appeal against his deportation was rejected today by Japanese authorities. Meanwhile the Icelandic Chess Federation has appealed to US president Bush to pardon Fischer and set up a petition web site to collect signatures. In Tokyo a "Free Fischer Press Conference" is scheduled for Thursday. More... |
 Fischer
a sacrificial pawn?25.07.2004 Bobby Fischer is still in detention at Narita Airport in Tokyo, traumatised but stubborn, "behaving like a Samurai". At the same time news outlets all over the world are covering the story, with Fischer's brother-in-law Russell Targ assailing the Bush administration for playing election year politics with the former chess champion's freedom. There's a lot to be read... |
 Game
of Life: Kasparov on Fischer – in full20.07.2004 The news of Fischer's arrest in Japan came as a shock to Garry Kasparov, who was in a holiday camp working intensely on the games of his greatest American predecessor. In today's issue of The Wall Street Journal Kasparov assesses Fischer's chess career – for a public that was being exposed to his current situation. We now bring you Kasparov's full article. |
 Will
Fischer be extradited?19.07.2004 Chess legend Bobby Fischer, the hero of millions, languishes in the detention facilities of Narita Airport in Tokyo, waiting for a decision by Japanese Immigration authorities on his deportation to the US. We have collected all the documents and reconstructed a timeline to his arrest. Fischer, who has no legal counsel, is appealing for international assistance. |
 Bobby
Fischer detained in Japan (updated)16.07.2004 It's the latest twist in the sad tale of American former world champion Bobby Fischer. He has been detained in Japan and faces possible deportation to the US to face charges for playing in Yugoslavia in 1992. Fischer's website says he was "very nearly killed" in Japan. The story has been picked up by news services all over the world. |
Fischer
to receive Icelandic citizenship
Playing
the Al Capone Gambit against Fischer
Fischer's
passport – to freedom?
Bobby
Fischer applies for Icelandic Citizenship
Bobby
Fischer – six months in jail
US
threatens Iceland, Fischer Committee appeals
