FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich has voluntarily suspended his powers following inclusion in the European Union's 21st sanctions package against Russia. Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand will serve as interim president under the FIDE Charter.
Dvorkovich announced the decision in a statement on the FIDE website. He described the sanctions as unlawful and unfair and said he would challenge them through legal means. The move came hours after Ukraine's sports minister confirmed the sanctions listing.
The FIDE Council ratified the suspension and confirmed that Anand, the deputy president, would assume the duties. Dvorkovich remains president in name but will not exercise rights or responsibilities while the sanctions are in force.
The sanctions target Dvorkovich personally for alleged support of Russian policies regarding Ukraine. They impose an asset freeze and travel ban but do not directly affect FIDE as an organization.
The FIDE presidential election is scheduled for the end of September in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The nomination deadline is July 26.
