CAS has ordered the russian Chess Federation to withdraw from the occupied territories of Ukraine

This was announced on the organisation’s official website.

The Ukrainian Chess Federation (UCF) has lodged an appeal with the CAS over the Appeals Chamber’s “too lenient” ruling in the case concerning the russian Chess Federation’s (RCF) breach of FIDE regulations by recognising and legally incorporating the temporarily occupied territories into its membership, as well as holding chess tournaments there under its own auspices.

In 2024, the Appeals Chamber ruled that “the international community (the UN and the IOC) recognises Crimea, the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions as part of Ukraine. And the inclusion of these regional federations within the FSR violates the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the FSU, as well as the principles of the FIDE Statutes.” As a sanction, the FSR was fined 45,000 euros, and in the event of non-payment, its FIDE membership was to be suspended for one year.

Now, however, the CAS has partially upheld Ukraine’s appeal and overturned the decision regarding the fine. Instead, the court ruled that within 90 days, the russian Chess Federation must cease organising chess competitions in the temporarily occupied territories.

"The Panel sets aside the operative part of the decision, including the financial penalty, which must consequently be refunded to the RCF (if it has been paid), and replaces it with an order requiring the RCF to cease its activities in the Regions within 90 days. In the event of non-compliance with this requirement, the RCF will be suspended from FIDE for a period of up to three years (or for a shorter period if it ceases its activities earlier).”

In a statement, the Court of Arbitration for Sport noted that the demand prohibiting competitions in the occupied territories was the only one to be approved. The rest of Ukraine’s demands against the russian Chess Federation and other motions were rejected.

Also, in early January, Ukraine, together with four other countries, filed a claim with the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding the lifting of sanctions against russia and Belarus. In addition to Ukraine, the chess federations of Norway, Estonia, England and Germany joined the joint statement.

Source: Suspilne Sport