Sergey Karjakin sanctioned by the European Union

[LawrenceCooper]

https://x.com/chess24com/status/1894088134926762471
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content ... _202500389

[NickFaulks]

"He was previously a chess Grandmaster, and was suspended due to his statements in support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine."

[NickFaulks]

https://ratings.fide.com/profile/14109603

Yes, he was suspended, but for six months from 22nd March 2022. So is he suspended now?

https://ethics.fide.com/suspensions-in-force/

Apparently not.

Ethics has made no decisions since 7th August 2024 and there are no pending cases. I wonder what they are doing.

[Paul Cooksey]

As disgusting as his actions are, Karjakin would have only benefited from another ban. The role of a martyr is popular these days. He was banned two years ago, and is barely playing now - only inside his country. FIDE acts wisely, depriving SK of case for propaganda statements.

[Mick Norris]

Karjakin played in the Chess Stars-2025 5.0 in Moscow

[Gerard Killoran]

Whoever wrote this doesn't know that Karjakin is still (and always will be) a Grandmaster.

Compare and contast the EU's attitudes toward Russia and Israel. A lesson in rank hypocrisy.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Hypocrisy is an ever present in international affairs and always has been.

Though however bad Israel undoubtedly is currently, it remains the case that they aren't threatening to invade large swathes of Europe.

[Gerard Killoran]

Hypocrisy is an ever present in international affairs and always has been.

You almost make it sound like a bad thing,

Though however bad Israel undoubtedly is currently, it remains the case that they aren't threatening to invade large swathes of Europe.

And that's all that matters, eh?

[Matt Mackenzie]

Well, there is a strong argument it *does* matter and that trying to pretend otherwise is not terribly realistic.

[Gerard Killoran]

Well, there is a strong argument it *does* matter and that trying to pretend otherwise is not terribly realistic.

I'm not the one pretending anything, or trying to excuse rank hypocrisy.

As for the 'strong argument', I'd like to hear it.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Well, there is a strong argument it *does* matter and that trying to pretend otherwise is not terribly realistic.

That comes perilously close to saying that Gaza (and Palestine) does not matter.

I would argue that the Middle East and the simmering Iran-Israel conflict and getting Israel to stop its killings in Gaza are equally as important in terms of getting a resolution to the Ukraine-Russia conflict. The Ukraine situation is relatively contained, and Putin (no fool) currently intends to keep it that way (long-term, this theatre/region is less easy to assess).

It is a sad indictment on Western political leaders and some others worldwide (not the diplomats and mediators, who for the most part do tend to do their utmost to get something sorted on the ground) that while there is only so much effort that can be expended on the world's conflicts in terms of resolving them and applying economic, political and logistical (i.e. arms supply) pressure, they (the political leaders) do seem to put more effort in for conflicts that their electorates care about.

Maybe the recent primary election result in New York will signal a change there?

[Matt Mackenzie]

Well, there is a strong argument it *does* matter and that trying to pretend otherwise is not terribly realistic.

That comes perilously close to saying that Gaza (and Palestine) does not matter

No, it doesn't have to mean that at all. It is plainly a very important thing and many care about it for totally legitimate reasons.

[IM Jack Rudd]

As this thread is obviously developing into one about international conflicts in general rather than about the suspended chess player, I have moved it into Not Chess!

[Gerard Killoran]

Well, there is a strong argument it *does* matter and that trying to pretend otherwise is not terribly realistic.

That comes perilously close to saying that Gaza (and Palestine) does not matter

No, it doesn't have to mean that at all. It is plainly a very important thing and many care about it for totally legitimate reasons.

So will I ever hear this 'strong argument'?