EU Sanctions Force Dvorkovich Out of FIDE; Viswanathan Anand Named Interim President

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) is set for a leadership change after Arkady Dvorkovich, a former Russian deputy prime minister and the current FIDE president, was placed on the European Union’s latest sanctions list. Dvorkovich announced on Friday that he was suspending his activity with the organisation, and FIDE stated that India’s Viswanathan Anand, a former world chess champion, will take over as interim president.

Sanctions Package and Dvorkovich’s Response

The development is part of the EU’s largest sanctions package in four years, targeting 218 individuals and entities linked to Russia. The package, announced as the conflict in Ukraine reached its 1,612nd day, includes measures against more than 100 banks and cryptocurrency operators, over 40 vessels from Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, and several oil refineries. More than 50 military-industrial entities have also been added, including key actors involved in producing Russia’s long-range drones.

Dvorkovich described his inclusion on the sanctions list as unlawful and unfair. The designation means he can no longer continue in his role at the federation’s helm, prompting the handover to Anand, one of the most recognisable figures in modern chess.

Broader Sanctions Landscape

The latest package brings the total number of EU designations against Russian-linked individuals and entities to nearly 3,000. The measures include a full asset freeze on 94 Russian financial institutions and the disconnection of 33 Russian banks from the Swift international payments system. Moscow’s stock exchange has also been added to the sanctions list.

Internationally, the package reaches banks and cryptocurrency platforms in countries including Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, India, Georgia, Panama, the Marshall Islands, Belarus, the United Arab Emirates, and several African nations. The Russian oil price cap has been frozen at $44.10 per barrel for 12 months, preventing an automatic increase that would have raised it to approximately $58.50.

What the Package Targets

• 218 individuals and entities newly sanctioned
• More than 100 banks and cryptocurrency operators
• Over 40 vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet
• Several oil refineries
• More than 50 military-industrial entities, many linked to long-range Garpiya drone production
• 51 entities facing export restrictions on dual-use goods and technology, including firms in China, Hong Kong, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and the UAE
• Actors linked to Russia’s satellite communications system being developed as an alternative to Starlink

Implications for FIDE

Anand’s appointment as interim president brings one of the most decorated players in chess history to the federation’s top role. As a five-time world champion and a respected figure in the global chess community, his leadership is expected to provide stability during the transition. The FIDE Council is likely to formalise the arrangement in the coming weeks, though the chess body has not yet announced a timeline for a permanent successor or a presidential election.

Source

This report is based on information published by The Guardian — Chess.

Official source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/24/ukraine-war-briefing-eu-sanctions-oust-russian-president-of-world-chess