Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan, Serik Zharasbayev, denied rumors about Bibisara Assaubayeva changing her citizenship. Zharasbayev questions the purpose of this rumor, and calls Bibisara a patriot of Kazakhstan.

Serik Zharasbayev

Serik Zharasbayev

Deputy Minister of Sports of Kazakhstan

“I want to repeat once again that there is no question of Bibisara Assaubayeva changing her citizenship.

I do not know who raised this issue and why it is being discussed at all. Bibisara is a patriot of our country.”

Kazakh GM Bibisara Assaubayeva recorded a video addressed to the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on June 10. Bibisara described her funding situation, said she hasn’t paid her seconds for the Norway Chess, and asked the president for help. On June 11, Bibisara published a post following the video, criticizing the Ministry of Sports’ reply on the situation.

Executive Director of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, Gulmira Dauletova, Kazakh chess coach Olzhas Mengali, and FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky have publicly commented on Bibisara’s statements. Assaubayeva’s mother, Liana Hakim, shared her opinion on the situation on June 16.

The discussion led to a rumor on social media that Bibisara might switch federations. Assaubayeva has not made public statements about the change at the time of publication.

Credit: Bibisara Assaubayeva Telegram