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Kirsan Ilyumzhinov (here in March 2017) has announced his intention to appeal his suspension. Yuri KADOBNOV / AFP
The International Chess Federation has suspended Friday its president, the Russian Kirsan Ilioumjinov, from office. A special commission found him guilty of " violating FIDE's code of ethics ". Kirsan Ilioumjinov denounced " a purely illegal and political decision ".
With our correspondent in Moscow, Etienne Bouche
Kirsan Ilioumjinov announced his intention to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. He accuses some members of the Chess Federation of acting under the influence of the Americans.
Since 2015, the billionaire is sanctioned by the United States: according to Washington, Ilioumjinov would have facilitated the purchase of oil by the Syrian regime to the Islamic State organization.
Due to the US sanctions, the Swiss bank UBS announced in February the closure of the accounts of the Chess Federation. In its statement, the Federation believes that Kirsan Ilioumjinov created " confusion and instability ." Ilioumjinov having refused to withdraw, the Federation has decided to separate.
On June 29, Ilioumjinov posted a video on the Instagram network stating that he did not represent his candidacy for the presidency of the Chess Federation. Last year, he was talked about when the Federation announced his resignation, information he also denied immediately.