The world chess association Fide has banned former World Cup challenger Sergei Karjakin for six months for supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The federation's ethics committee saw it as proven that the grandmaster from Russia had damaged the reputation of the sport and the world federation and thus violated the code of ethics, as FIDE announced on Monday.
"Remarks by Sergei Karjakin on the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine have prompted a significant number of reactions on social media and elsewhere, mostly negative to the opinions expressed by Sergei Karjakin," the commission wrote in its citation.
Karjakin was a challenger to world champion Magnus Carlsen (Norway) in 2016.
“I am with Russia”
The 32-year-old, who was born in Ukraine and has had Russian citizenship since 2009, wrote on Twitter, among other things: "Many people ask if I regret my public support for the special operation.
After all, I've already lost invitations to tournaments in the West and could lose an invitation to the Candidates Tournament.
My answer is simple.
I stand with Russia and my President.
No matter what happens, I will support my country in any situation without thinking for a second."
Karjakin's compatriot Sergei Shipow, on the other hand, was acquitted by the ethics committee of the allegation of behavior damaging to the association.
This is less well known and therefore does not have such a powerful platform.
The Commission justified its decision by saying that his statements were also somewhat different and of a less provocative character.