Dvorkovich steps aside as FIDE president after EU sanctions listing

Arkady Dvorkovich has stepped aside as president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) after the European Union placed him on its newest sanctions list, the governing body said in a statement. Indian grandmaster and world chess champion Viswanathan Anand will take over as interim president.

Dvorkovich, 54, a former deputy prime minister of Russia and an adviser to the Kremlin, described the EU's decision as unlawful and unfair, and said he intends to fight it. The listing carries a travel ban across the bloc as well as a freeze on his assets.

His name appears in the EU's approved 21st sanctions package, issued in connection with Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. That package applies punitive measures to 170 entities and 48 individuals.

Dvorkovich has led FIDE since 2018 and said last month that he intended to contest re-election. The vote is scheduled for the federation's General Assembly during the Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan in September.

FIDE suspended Russia on June 11 following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.