On Wednesday, chess grandmaster and political activist Garry Kasparov was described as a “terrorist and extremist” by Russia’s financial watchdog, Rosfinmonitoring.
The 60-year-old chess legend, who is well-known for his outspoken criticism of President Vladimir Putin, is now known as a key player on the watchdog’s roster in the fight against money laundering and terrorism funding. Russia included Kasparov on its “foreign agents” list in May 2022.
Garry Kasparov has long been openly critical of the Kremlin and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He left Russia in 2013 out of fear of arrest. May saw him labeled as a “foreign agent” due to his political activity.
A difference that speaks more about Putin’s Nazi government than it does about me. According to Goldwater, moderation in the quest for justice is not goodness, and fanaticism in the defence of liberty is not a fault! However, the rule of law must label any opposition or even basic humanity as extreme.
In Lithuania’s capital, Garry Kasparov co-founded the “Free Russia Forum” in 2016, an organization that represents Russian opposition personalities and organizes periodic anti-war seminars. The group pushed for international recognition of the Russian leadership as war criminals after Russia attacked Ukraine on a large scale.
Since 2022, Kasparov has been listed by the Russian government as a “foreign agent,” a classification given to individuals or organizations that receive funds for activities that “oppose the national interests of the Russian Federation.”
From 1985 until 2000, Kasparov held the title of world chess champion. He gave up the game in 2005. Though he is now more active in politics and action, he still stays active in chess as an advisor and commentator on the Grand Chess Tour, as well as through his charitable educational organization, the Kasparov Chess Foundation. Additionally, he has sporadically engaged in and provided commentary for Chess960 and Blitz competitions held in St. Louis.
He currently resides in America and is a Croatian passport holder.