Statement of the Chess Federation of Ukraine

On September 26, 2026, the General Assembly of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) elected a new president of the organization. He was Timur Turlov, who has been under sanctions since October 2022, imposed by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and put into effect by the Decree of the President of Ukraine. In addition, according to available information, other effective sanctions are being prepared against Turlov. 

At the meeting of the General Assembly, Timur Turlov announced that a citizen of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podoliak, and a citizen of the Russian Federation (RF) Pavel Kolobkov were appointed to the positions of FIDE vice-presidents. 

The Chess Federation of Ukraine declares that: 

1. It did not authorize a citizen of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podoliak, to represent the FSU in FIDE. Mykhailo Podoliak has no relation to the Chess Federation of Ukraine and chess life in Ukraine.

 2. Russian citizen Pavel Kolobkov, former Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, cannot hold positions in FIDE, as the membership of the Russian Chess Federation in FIDE is currently suspended. 

3. The FSU demands that Mikhail Podolyak and Pavlo Kolobkov not be appointed as FIDE Vice-Presidents. 

The FSU believes that the actions of Mikhail Podolyak, committed during the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation, undermine the sovereignty and negatively affect the image of Ukraine. 

The FSU calls on the Ukrainian public and the media to give a proper assessment of the actions of Mikhail Podolyak. When you hear the alarm signal, the sounds of the shaheeds, rockets and explosions, know: at this time Mikhail Podolyak is cooperating with the Russians as the Vice-President of FIDE.