“Rossiyskaya Gazeta”
(federal issue № 5184 (105) on May 18, 2010)
Mr. A. Dvorkovich – nomination of Karpov for Head of FIDE from Russia is illegitimate
In “Chess House” Arkady Dvorkovich (left) holds regular competitions among talented players. Photo: Mitrichev B.
On the eve the Russian Chess Federation has found itself in the epicentre of a big scandal. Let’s remind you that on Friday the highest body of the Federation Supervisory Board headed by the Assistant of the RF President A. Dvorkovich was to meet and discuss important issues for Russian chess – on chess development strategy, preparation of Russian teams for the Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk.
Of course, it was planned to approve the budget of the RCF and new principles of the Federation’s work. There was no point on the nomination of the Russian candidate for the FIDE President. The thing is that Russia has already supported the candidacy of the Head of Kalmykia and incumbent President of FIDE – Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.
No other variations were possible.
However, it turned out that instead of one planned in advance meeting of the RCF Supervisory Board, two of them took place at the same time! Part of the Board members led by the RCF Board Chairman A. Bakh, A. Karpov and Garry Kasparov, a “implacable opponent” who joined them), gathered in the Central Chess Club and voted for the nomination of the 12th World Champion for the position of the FIDE President. At the same time, the Supervisory Board head in the “Chess salon” had a meeting with other members of the Board.
After the appearance of the news that “Karpov is nominated as a Russian candidate” in informational sites, Mr. Dvorkovich stated to the press that the decisions taken in the Central Chess Club are illegitimate. He said that only the Chairman has a right by the Statutes to hold the meetings of the Supervisory Board, therefore both meetings cannot be called legitimate – one because of the Chairman’s absence, the second one – because of the lack of quorum.
Besides as Chairman Bakh has not undertaken necessary measures to register the RCF Statutes approved by the Congress, the most important decisions could not have been taken, even if the meeting had taken place.
Details from Mr. Dvorkovich to Rossiyskaia gazeta:
Dvorkovich – it is not a secret that restructuring has been going on in our chess Federation for several months. After Mr. Zhukov and me resigned and led the Supervisory Board, new Statutory documents of the RCF were prepared, and approved by the Congress delegates. To date, the new Statutes have not been registered by the Ministry of Justice.
There is a human factor which interferes with full and normal work of the Federation. I think that some people who are in the RCF management, in particular, Chairman A. Bakh, do not like the changes which were planned. Due to these changes they lose control over the finances and in fact are deprived of the “steering wheel”. They do not want to get along with the common in the world corporate principles of management, they are sabotaging the activities in the Federation in all ways.
Second moment – disagreements on who shall be the RCF candidate at the forthcoming FIDE Presidential elections. Despite the fact that the top management of the RCF Supervisory Board in my person, A. Zhukov and I. Kogan as well, decided to support Ilyumzhinov, Chairman of RCF Board A. Bakh is strongly by all means supporting Karpov. The things which happened on Friday, is the best proof of this – Mr. Bakh misinformed the Supervisory Board members of the venue of the meeting and called an “alternative” meeting. I think my duty is to state that any messages, declaration, information on decisions, taken by the Supervisory Board and the RCF in general, are fraudulent, deceitful and not corresponding the reality. I am waiting for the persons who violated the acting norms of the Federation, to take responsibility for this and resign.
I shall do my utmost so that the Statutes of the RCF approved at the Congress, be registered. This will enable the Supervisory Board to meet and take all legitimate decisions.
We have a candidate for the FIDE elections. If after the Statutes registration the Supervisory Board coming into force takes another decision, then it will be also legitimate. From my point of view, I case if any other candidate including A. Karpov, will be able to secure his nomination from any other Federation, e.g. French, then RCF shall not use the veto right, stipulated in the FIDE Statutes and block the candidate. I respect Karpov as a chess player but as an administrator, he loses to Ilyumzhinov. Besides, the candidacy of the head of Kalmykia was supported by A. Zhukov. By the way, Mr. Zhukov as myself, think that we should not be against Karpov’s running as a candidate from another federation. Their competition with K. Ilyumzhinov could be a positive factor for world chess.
Editorial note:
The main event of the year – Chess Olympiad will take place in Khanty-Mansiysk in September. Unfortunately, lately our great chess power cannot boast of any specific success. The reason is known: during his years in power Bakh quarrelled with nearly all top players. Despite all these, a new team led by Dvorkovich managed to unite the best for the victory in Khanty-Mansiysk. Let’s keep in mind that the team of Dvorkovich has created a strategy of chess development in Russia for several years ahead.
In particular, a concept of chess commercialisation and new image of the game have been prepared. Financing shall be drastically increased in comparison with previous years, finally we have a clear system of the teams preparation for Olympiads, a team is formed, as well as the chess management system. All this is risking to stay on a paper until the people for whom Russian chess has become a simple “feeder”, continue their “activities”, organising riots, which are in fact, more and more meaningless and merciless towards the great game.