Share :

Download PDF :

EU Observer (10 June 2026)

Andrew Rettman

Russia’s world chess supremo and orthodox church head face new threats of EU visa bans and asset freezes, after the Kremlin lost its Hungarian anti-sanctions firewall.

Arkady Dvorkovich, the Russian head of the Swiss-based International Chess Federation (FIDE) should be blacklisted because he “publicly supported” the Ukraine war, said the European Commission in its proposal for the 21st round of Russia sanctions, seen by EUobserver on Wednesday (10 June).

Dvorkovich should also be listed because of his role in the Russian Chess Federation (RCF), which normalised Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by organising chess tournaments in occupied territories, the proposal added.

Click for more