FIDE upheld suspension of Russian Chess Federation

President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Timur Turlov said that the General Assembly of the organization upheld the suspension of the Chess Federation of Russia (FSHR).

Delegates by a majority of votes rejected the proposals of the chess federations of Armenia, Belarus, Cuba and Nicaragua to restore the membership of the FSHR.

“We must follow the CAS decisions. At the same time, I hope that we will be able to find a way out of this situation and one day the FSHR will return in full rights when the CAS conditions are met, Turlov said.

The founder and CEO of Freedom Holding Turlov was elected head of FIDE on Saturday, September 26.

Since 2022, after the beginning of the military operation in Ukraine, the Russians could only play in personal FIDE tournaments in neutral status. In January 2025, the federation allowed Russians to play junior team tournaments, as well as team tournaments for players with disabilities. In 2025, FIDE allowed the Russians to play at the World Team Championship, which they won.

On December 14, 2025, delegates of the FIDE General Assembly first supported the return of Russian chess players with national symbols, and then voted for neutral status. The organization sought advice from the IOC. Later, FIDE did not allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to perform under their national symbols at the adult level.

On June 11, 2026, FIDE temporarily suspended the membership of the FSHR for non-compliance with the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, according to which the FSHR had to stop regulating chess activities and events in Sevastopol, Crimea, the DPR, the LPR, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions.