Dear Sirs/Madams,
Election of FIDE President is to take place on September
29. The current FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the
12th World Champion Anatoly Karpov are competing for this
post.
The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO appeals to you
so that to prevent reelection of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, one of
the most disgraceful figures in Russian politics, to the post
of FIDE President.
YABLOKO has always regarded Kirsan Ilyumzhinov's regime set
in the Republic of Kalmykia, uncontrollably governed by Ilyumzhinov
for 17 years, as one of the ugliest manifestations in Russia’s
political history of the past two decades presenting a merger
of authoritarian rule, corruption and crime.
Larissa
Yudina, Chair of the Kalmykia regional branch of YABLOKO,
paid with her life in 1998 for the fight against this regime,
and Ilyumzhinov's aid was convicted for committing this murder.
In our view, responsibility for this crime lies entirely with
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.
We are certain that Kirsan Ilyumzhinov who is now losing
his presidency in Kalmykia has been trying to keep by all
means the post of FIDE President so that to avoid investigation
of his activities in Kalmykia and criminal prosecution which
he fully deserves.
A reelection of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov for the post of FIDE President
will become a disgrace for the international chess movement
and FIDE.
You have a chance to avoid such a disgrace.
Sergei Mitrokhin,
Chair of the YABLOKO party
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