Ukrainian chess players Maria and Anna Muzychuk will be expelled from the Lviv Regional Chess Federation due to their refusal to oppose the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in competitions under the auspices of FIDE.

This was reported on the official website of the Ukrainian Chess Federation.

LOSHF members wrote an open letter to FSU President Viktor Kapustin, in which they asked him to apply to FIDE with a demand not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete, and also to remove Arkady Dvorkovich from the post of president.

The Muzychuk sisters did not support and did not sign this appeal, in connection with which the presidium of the LOSHF decided to stop cooperation with them and expel them from the federation.

Anna and Maria Muzychuk are among the best female chess players of recent years.

Maria is the world champion in classical chess, the second in the history of Ukraine after Anna Ushenina.

Her older sister Anna is a two-time world blitz champion, world rapid champion, and world vice-champion in classical chess.

Both are multiple winners of the World Chess Olympiads, European Championships and World Team Championships.

According to Russian experts, the chess players showed real professionalism, managing to separate sports from politics and not getting involved in a large-scale persecution of Russians and Belarusians.

So, grandmaster Sergey Karyakin admitted that the act of the Muzychuk sisters, whom he has known since childhood, did not come as a surprise to him, although at present they are “on opposite sides of the barricades”.

“I respect them very much as chess players and I am sure that sports principles are not an empty phrase for them and they are used to winning over the board.

Therefore, I will say that their decision did not surprise me much, and I believe that it is correct, ”RIA Novosti quotes the chess player.

Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Dmitry Svishchev emphasized that such a position is not an isolated case, and many athletes, coaches and functionaries have already advocated restoring the status of Russian athletes.

As you know, world champion Magnus Carlsen recently expressed support for the suspended Sergey Karjakin, saying that it is wrong to punish a person for his opinion.

Svishchev thanked the Muzychuk sisters for similar bravery.

In his opinion, to commit such an act in the conditions of the most severe Russophobia is worth a lot.

“I don’t understand the sanctions that have already been applied to them in Ukraine.

They have the right to express their position, and they are expelled from the federation.

Hope the girls are ok.

In fact, most athletes adhere to this position, but they cannot declare this so as not to fall under sanctions themselves.

Anna and Maria are very brave.

Not every adult man would not be afraid to do this in the current conditions.

They are real fighters.

I hope they will not have difficulties in life after this, ”the official told Sport-Express.

In turn, grandmaster Sergei Shipov noted that the athletes treated their work colleagues “in a human way”.

“Anna and Maria are, of course, patriots of Ukraine, there is no doubt about that.

Therefore, this act of theirs should not be taken as that they are on our side.

The Muzychuk sisters are historical figures, outstanding chess players.

They have always been professional athletes and, apparently, they remain so.

And they probably don’t want to become politicians, just as they don’t want to get involved in the persecution of Russian chess players, for which, of course, they are honored and praised, ”the expert said in an interview with RT.

Commenting on the very appeal of the LOSHKh, the former chess player noted that it fits into the general mainstream of political sentiments of recent times.

“This is the policy of the entire Ukrainian leadership, and not only Ukrainian.

Many Western countries also advocate that Russians should not be in any of the sports.

In particular, Polish leaders are the most active in this regard.

The athletes themselves, as a rule, take a softer position, and it’s probably more interesting for them to play in those tournaments where there is strong competition, ”Shipov noted.

He also expressed the hope that the refusal to sign the letter would not affect Muzychuk's career, and in this regard, he urged the domestic public not to express their gratitude to the Ukrainian chess players too actively.

“We need to be careful not to harm, because support from the Russian side will only embitter the Lvov figures who are looking for the guilty.

Apparently, they need blood, and it would be completely inhuman if they unleash their anger on their own athletes, on the pride of Lviv, Ukraine and the entire chess world,” Shipov emphasized.

Anatoly Karpov, speaking about the possible consequences for chess players, noted that they are unlikely to face serious sanctions, because they are "Ukrainian by nationality, they have always played for their country."

“They are wonderful chess players of the highest level.

As far as I know, by birth they are connected with the Lviv region, but if the federation puts them in such conditions, then they will simply move to the chess federation of another country, ”Sport-Express quotes the twelfth world champion.