Dvorkovich faces endgame after EU agrees new Russia war sanctions
Arkady Dvorkovich, president of the International Chess Federation (Fide), has suspended his duties after being placed on an EU sanctions list for supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The move is seen as a significant blow to Russian influence in international sports.
Why it matters
The sanctions highlight the use of international sports organizations as arenas for geopolitical conflict and soft power.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Will Vernon Getty Images Arkady Dvorkovich has overseen the chess federation during one of the most turbulent periods in the history of the game The world of chess has been thrown into turmoil after the president of the International Chess Federation (Fide), Arkady Dvorkovich, said he was stepping aside because he was included on the European Union's latest sanctions list.
Dvorkovich, 54, a former deputy prime minister of Russia and adviser to the Kremlin, now faces an EU travel ban and asset freeze.
The EU said his inclusion was due to "publicly supporting the annexation of Crimea and calling occupied Ukrainian cities 'new territories' of the Russian Federation".
In a statement, Dvorkovich said he had decided to "voluntarily suspend the exercise of my powers and duties" , but told the BBC he had not resigned.
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