FIDE suspended the Russian Chess Federation (RCF) for 3 years starting June 10, 2026. The suspension follows RCF’s failure to stop holding chess events in Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) set a 90-day deadline for RCF to end activities in these regions on March 11, 2026. RCF did not comply, and FIDE applied the suspension two days after the deadline expired.

RCF cannot participate in FIDE governing bodies. Under Article 13.6 of the FIDE Charter, Russians retain the ability to compete in tournaments. Juniors may play under the national flag, and adults under the FIDE flag. FIDE tournaments held in the Russian Federation, with the exception of the above-mentioned territories, will be rated.

In June 2024, the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission stripped RCF of membership for two years after a complaint from Ukraine. In September 2024, the FIDE Appeals Chamber changed the decision to a €45,000 fine. Ukraine appealed to CAS, and the fine was changed to the March 11, 2026 order. This is the first FIDE membership suspension enforced against RCF.

Credit: Michal Walusza / FIDE