Sergei Karjakin, a prominent chess player, has been criticized for his attendance at a propaganda event featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin. Karjakin reportedly shared a video on Telegram of Putin's arrival at the event, which he attended with Andrei Simanovsky, a former sponsor of both FIDE and chess player Ian Nepomniachtchi. Concerns have been raised about the use of chess for political propaganda in Russia, with some calling for FIDE to take action against Karjakin. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich was also noted to have attended a celebration for Simanovsky in Moscow last month.
Russian President Vladimir Putin joined the youth in singing the national anthem at the closing ceremony of the ‘Movement of the First’ congress in Moscow https://t.co/DRvYKBQ3L5
Dear @FIDE_chess Karjakin bragging about being at front row at an event with Putin himself. He visits the front lines, collects money, spreads propaganda on a daily basis and organizes international propaganda chess-events in Moscow. What does it take to be banned by FIDE? https://t.co/unVG1tAPzs
Hundreds of young people lined up this week in St. Petersburg to add their signatures in support of Russian presidential hopeful Boris Nadezhdin’s candidacy. @paperpaper_ru asked them what they think of his prospects. https://t.co/jvAMS1IwY0
And there where chess-players and FIDE sponsors. Sergei Karjakin, and Andrei Simanovski both attended the event and posted about it on social media. Why is @FIDE_chess tolerating chess being used like this? #BanKarjakin https://t.co/19fXqA6BGU https://t.co/z6hoWIn37e
We were invited to a Putin campaign event. There were pop stars, there were cosmonauts, and some curious conversations... Producer @LizaShuvalova @BenTavener Camera @AntonChicherov https://t.co/9mnxJd9XTB
Karjakin on Telegram shared a video of Vladimir Putin 🇷🇺 arriving at a propaganda event, where he was specially invited together with former FIDE and Nepomniachtchi sponsor Simanovsky. @FIDE_chess President Dvorkovich attended an event celebrating Simanovsky last month in Moscow. https://t.co/I6nCBVdxMg
Karjakin today posted that he is with FIDE-Sponsor Simanovsky, waiting to watch Putin at an event. Dear Emil: could you close such "loopholes" first? Chess is being used for Putin-propaganda in Russia on a daily basis, and you turn the blind eye. #BanKarjakin https://t.co/B2UmKzMrTU https://t.co/2BZRDMiXvN