Armenian chess grandmaster Smbat Lputian was arrested on Friday as part of a criminal investigation into alleged fraud and forgery but was later released. Charges against the 68-year-old remain in place. The case involves his role at a chess research institute.
Grandmaster Smbat Lputian, a prominent figure in Armenian chess, faces charges of aiding and abetting fraud and forgery, his lawyer Ruben Melikyan confirmed on Facebook. Authorities arrested him along with two others amid a broader probe into abuse of official authority, fraud, and document forgery, according to Aravot.am. Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee verified the arrest to Armenia Today over the weekend. Lputian was released shortly after his detention, though the charges persist. He serves as director of the “Chess” Scientific Research Institute at Armenian State Pedagogical University, which is linked to the investigation. His lawyer stated the probe does not relate to his positions as vice-president of the Armenian Chess Federation or founder of the Chess Academy of Armenia, established in 2002. Lputian, who earned his grandmaster title in 1984 and peaked at world No. 17 in 1989, contributed to Armenia's gold medal at the 2006 Chess Olympiad. In 2009, he received the title of Honored Master of Sport of the Republic of Armenia. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) acknowledged the preliminary charges against Lputian, described as first deputy chairman of the Armenian Chess Federation. FIDE praised his contributions to chess development and the institute's role in chess science and education programs, expressing hope for a swift, lawful resolution respecting all parties' rights. Lputian declined to comment when contacted by email.
