Former Russian Deputy Prime Minister and FIDE President Dvorkovich participates in chess tournament in Jurmala

RIGA - This week's youth chess tournament Rudaga Kaissa 2025 in Jurmala was attended by Arkady Dvorkovich, former Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and current President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), as a special guest, the organizers of the tournament confirmed to LETA.

"Dvorkovich was invited to open the festival and took part as a representative of FIDE," tournament spokeswoman Inese Testeleca told LETA.

As the organizers of the event pointed out, Rudaga Kaissa 2025 is an individual international chess event and its organization is in full compliance with the laws and regulations of the Republic of Latvia and FIDE rules. The participation of individual chess players in competitions held in Latvia is also not restricted, unless other legislation is violated or links with sanctioned persons or structures are proven.

"Arkady Dvorkovich has been FIDE President since 2018, elected with a mandate from the international chess community. His visit to Latvia as part of the chess tournament is representative, not as a competitor, and he also holds a valid FIDE licence, which entitles him to participate in the competition," the tournament organizers said, disclosing that they receive support from FIDE for the organization of the tournament.

According to FIDE decisions, Russian citizens can participate in international tournaments in neutral status (under the FIDE flag) until 2026, she said.

She also added that the competition does not include Russian or Belarusian teams. The organizers also report that all participants are registered with valid FIDE licences and the event is organized in close cooperation with FIDE and the Latvian Chess Federation (LSF).

According to the Foreign Ministry, Latvia has not issued visas to either Dvorkovich or Maria Polozkova (Bagatira), a propagandist for the Belarusian Television and Radio Company. Latvia has informed the Schengen visa-issuing countries about these persons.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and Science stated that the chess tournament in Jurmala is a privately organized event without the involvement and support of the state and the Latvian Chess Federation (LSF), which has been used for publicity through persons connected with Russian politics, including FIDE President Dvorkovich.

"As the tournament has not been coordinated with the LSF, its participants will not be credited with international ranking points for their participation," the ministry said.

The LSF informed LETA that they are not the organizers of Rudaga Kaissa 2025, but confirmed that several sponsors and guests of honor, including FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, attended the opening ceremony.

"Their participation in the competition was not in violation of the Law on Sport, because Dvorkovich participated in the competition not as representatives of a particular country, but in accordance with the Law on Sport - in a neutral status, competing under the FIDE flag," Toms Kalnins, Chairman of the LSF Board, told LETA.

He also pointed out that the LSF strictly complies with the requirements set out both in the Law on Sport and in the cooperation agreements with state institutions regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in competitions in Latvia.

"The Federation categorically does not allow situations in which chess competitions are used for political purposes or propaganda," Kalnins added.

The Latvian Sports Law does not stipulate that Russian or Belarusian individual athletes cannot participate in competitions in Latvia, while Latvian teams are banned from playing against Russian and Belarusian teams if they participate in competitions under their own flag or in a neutral capacity.

The law also stipulates that Latvia is prohibited from organizing national team sports competitions (adult, youth and junior) in which Russian or Belarusian national teams participate under their own flag or in a neutral capacity.