Garry Kasparov's Blog, page 9

Don’t Fear Putin’s Demise | Foreign Affairs | January 20, 2023

Stop being afraid of what might happen when Ukraine wins and Putin falls. The dangers are far higher now, and real. My article in @ForeignAffairs with Mikhail Khodorkovsky @mbk_center. https://t.co/gm60UQwEz2

— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) January 20, 2023

Putin’s Russia has been the greatest destabilizing force in the world, from interfering in elections to supporting dictators from Iran to Venezuela, to destroying entire cities in Syria and Ukraine. Victory for Ukraine will spell his end and a chance for a new Russia.

— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) January 20, 2023

This article is a reprint. You can read the original at Foreign Affairs.

By Garry Kasparov and Mikhail Khodorkovsky

“The regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin is living on borrowed time. The tide of history is turning, and everything from Ukraine’s advances on the battlefield to the West’s enduring unity and resolve in the face of Putin’s aggression points to 2023 being a decisive year. If the West holds firm, Putin’s regime will likely collapse in the near future.

Yet some of Ukraine’s key partners continue to resist supplying Kyiv with the weapons it needs to deliver the knockout punch. The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden in particular seems afraid of the chaos that could accompany a decisive Kremlin defeat. It has declined to send the tanks, long-range missile systems, and drones that would allow Ukrainian forces to take the fight to their attackers, reclaim their territory, and end the war. The end of Putin’s tyrannical rule will indeed radically change Russia (and the rest of the world)—but not in the way the White House thinks. Rather than destabilizing Russia and its neighbors, a Ukrainian victory would eliminate a powerful revanchist force and boost the cause of democracy worldwide.

Pro-democracy Russians who reject the totalitarian Putin regime—a group to which the authors belong—are doing what they can to help Ukraine liberate all occupied territories and restore its territorial integrity in accordance with the internationally recognized borders of 1991. We are also planning for the day after Putin. The Russian Action Committee, a coalition of opposition groups in exile that we co-founded in May 2022, aims to ensure that Ukraine is justly compensated for the damage caused by Putin’s aggression, that all war criminals are held accountable, and that Russia is transformed from a rogue dictatorship into a parliamentary federal republic. The looming end of Putin’s reign need not be feared, in other words; it should be welcomed with open arms.

UNFOUNDED FEARS

Putin’s effort to restore Russia’s lost empire is destined to fail. The moment is therefore ripe for a transition to democracy and a devolution of power to the regional levels. But for such a political transformation to take place, Putin must be defeated militarily in Ukraine. A decisive loss on the battlefield would pierce Putin’s aura of invincibility and expose him as the architect of a failing state, making his regime vulnerable to challenge from within.

The West, and above all the United States, is capable of providing the military and financial support to hasten the inevitable and propel Ukraine to a speedy victory. But the Biden administration still hasn’t coalesced around a clear endgame for the war, and some U.S. officials have suggested that Kyiv should consider giving up part of its territory in pursuit of peace—suggestions that are not reassuring. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made it clear that the Ukrainian people will never accept such a deal. Any territorial concessions made to Putin will inevitably lead to another war down the road.

At the root of Washington’s unwillingness to supply the necessary weapons lies a fear of the potential consequences of decisively defeating Russia in Ukraine. Many in the Biden administration believe that Putin’s downfall could trigger the collapse of Russia, plunging the nuclear-armed state into chaos and potentially strengthening China.

But such fears are overstated. The risk of a Russian collapse is, of course, real. But it is greater with Putin in office—pushing the country in an ever more centralized and militarized direction—than it would be under a democratic, federal regime. The longer the current regime remains in power, the greater the risk of an unpredictable rupture. Putin’s aggression has exposed the inherent instability of his model of government, which is built on the need to confront foreign enemies. The Kremlin Mafia, having turned Russia into a staging ground for its military plans, has already threatened to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. It is not the collapse of Putin’s regime that Washington should fear, therefore, but its continued survival.

For nearly two decades, some Western pundits have claimed that the Russian people will never accept democracy and that Russia is doomed to revanchism. Indeed, Putin’s propaganda has managed to instill in a sizable segment of Russian society the view that Western values are entirely alien to Russia. But economic integration with the West has enabled other countries to overcome a fascist heritage. And deeper integration with Europe, coupled with the conditional easing of Western sanctions, could help Russia do the same.

In the aftermath of Putin’s military defeat, Russia would have to choose: either become a vassal of China or begin reintegrating with Europe (having first justly compensated Ukraine for the damage inflicted during the war and punished those guilty of war crimes). For the majority of Russians, the choice in favor of peace, freedom, and flourishing would be obvious—and made even more so by the rapid reconstruction of Ukraine.

HOPE OVER FEAR

Putin’s military defeat would help catalyze a political transformation in Russia, making it possible for those seeking a brighter future to dismantle the old regime and forge a new political reality. The Russian Action Committee has laid out a blueprint for this transformation, aiming to reestablish the Russian state “on the principles of the rule of law, federalism, parliamentarism, a clear separation of powers and prioritizing human rights and freedoms over abstract ‘state interests.’ ” Our vision is for Russia to become a parliamentary republic and a federal state with only limited centralized powers (those necessary to conduct foreign and defense policy and protect citizens’ rights) and much stronger regional governments.

Getting there will take time. Within two years of the dissolution of Putin’s regime, Russians would elect a constituent assembly to adopt a new constitution and determine a new system of regional bodies. But in the short term, before that assembly could be seated, a transitional state council with legislative powers would be needed to oversee a temporary technocratic government. Its nucleus would be composed of Russians committed to the rule of law, those who have publicly disavowed Putin’s war and his illegitimate regime. Most have been forced into exile, where we have been free to organize and create a virtual civil society in absentia. Such preparations will enable us to act swiftly and work with the Western powers whose cooperation the new Russian government will need to stabilize the economy.

Immediately after assuming power, the state council would conclude a peace agreement with Ukraine, recognizing the country’s 1991 borders and justly compensating it for the damage caused by Putin’s war. The state council would also formally reject the imperial policies of the Putin regime, both within Russia and abroad, including by ceasing all formal and informal support for pro-Russian entities in the countries of the former Soviet Union. And it would end Russia’s long-running confrontation with the West, transitioning instead to a foreign policy based on peace, partnership, and integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions.

On the home front, the state council would begin to demilitarize Russia, reducing the size of the armed forces and by extension the cost of their maintenance. It would also dissolve the organs of Putin’s police state, including the repressive Federal Security Service and Center for Combating Extremism, and repeal all repressive laws adopted during Putin’s rule. All political prisoners would be released and fully rehabilitated, and a broader amnesty program would be adopted to reduce the overall number of prisoners in Russia.

At the federal level, the state council would pursue lustration, conducting open and thorough investigations of former officials to disqualify those responsible for the prior regime’s abuses. In addition, it would liquidate all political parties and public organizations that supported the invasion of Ukraine, so that they cannot interfere with the construction of a new Russia. At the same time, the council would liberalize electoral laws, simplify the process for registering political parties, and scrap Putin-era restrictions on rallies, strikes, and demonstrations.

The state council would also begin the process of decentralizing the country, transferring broad powers to the regions, including in the budgetary sphere. Such reforms would weaken Russia’s all-powerful imperial center: if the federal government does not have total control over state finances, then it won’t have the means to wage military adventures.

Finally, the council would ensure that war criminals and senior officials from Putin’s regime were held accountable. Those responsible for the worst war crimes would be tried in an international tribunal, and Russia itself would try the rest. To do so, it would need to draw a clear line between war criminals and former regime operatives—offering various forms of compromise with the latter to better assure a peaceful transition.

This is a make-or-break moment for Ukraine. Biden can turn the tide in Kyiv’s favor by backing up his declarations of support with the delivery of tanks and long-range weaponry. He can also hasten the demise of Putin’s regime, opening up the possibility of a democratic future for Russia and demonstrating to the world the folly of military aggression. The United States cannot let its fears stand in the way of Ukraine’s hopes.”

Letter to the Participants of the Ramstein Coalition Meeting | The Russian Action Committee | January 20, 2023

The West’s strategy of doling out weapons to Ukraine bit by bit encourages Putin’s murderous ambitions. Give the country fighting for its freedom and for the peaceful future of Europe whatever it needs to defend its people. https://t.co/mTxhq0wjuN

— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) January 19, 2023

This article is a reprint. You can read the original at the Russian Action Committee.

“To the participants of the Ramstein coalition meeting on 20 January 2023

The latest crime of Putin’s terrorist regime resulted in at least 45 people killed and scores of others wounded in Dnipro, again begs the question: why hasn’t the Free World given Ukraine the weapons it needs to stop the loss of civilian lives? One of the dominant arguments we hear from Western capitals is that fully supporting Ukraine and enabling its victory could result in the collapse of Putin’s dictatorship, growing instability, and even the disintegration of the Russian Federation. Though we agree with the first thesis – a Ukrainian victory could lead to the collapse of the fascist regime in Russia – we believe it is wrong to fear its consequences. It is hard to imagine a more dangerous, unstable, and unpredictable Russia than the one under Putin’s rule!

Nobody can guarantee a peaceful transition to democracy after the collapse of a dictatorship. But we are confident that preserving the status quo will result in a less stable global order, with Russia increasingly resembling an even more belligerent version of North Korea. Ultimately, the collapse of Russia’s dictatorship (if it occurs) would be far more likely to be a positive event than a negative one.

We readily admit that Putin’s fall is not without risk; but this is a risk well worth taking. Are Western governments ready to consign millions who neighbor Russia to the perpetual fear of invasion? More immediately, how could they consign millions of Ukrainians to the tender mercies of Putin’s indiscriminate attacks for fear of some distant, ill-defined, and unlikely possibility? World leaders should be more concerned about today’s threats of Russian rockets, ballistic missiles, and military assaults than they are about the hypothetical scenarios of tomorrow. The West’s strategy of moving slowly and doling out weapons to Ukraine bit by bit is misguided because it encourages Putin’s murderous ambitions. It leads him to believe that the West is running out of resources and that he will win a protracted war. We cannot continue to self-deter and we cannot allow ourselves to be duped by a dictator.

We urge the leaders of Western countries gathering at Ramstein to stop procrastinating and end the policy of small injections of weapons. This should be replaced with a very simple approach: give the country fighting for its freedom and for the peaceful future of Europe whatever it needs to defend its people and bring this conflict to a true resolution as quickly as possible.

Russian Action Committee”

Declaration Regarding the Ramstein Group Meeting | The World Liberty Congress | January 20, 2023

We ask the defenders of the free world in the Ramstein Group to fully support the people of Ukraine and put a stop to Putin’s threats once and for all.

See our statement here: https://t.co/YMteM6jHvZ @WLCongress #TogetherWeAreStronger

— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) January 19, 2023

This article is a reprint. You can read the original at the World Liberty Congress.

“The World Liberty Congress calls on all governments participating in the Ramstein Group Meeting to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine

On behalf of the World Liberty Congress, we call on the governments taking part in Ukraine Defense Contact Group, also known as the “Ramstein Group meeting” on January 20, 2023, to increase security assistance to Ukraine and ensure that Ukrainians have the weapons they need to
protect their civilian population and repel the Russian aggressor. Nothing should be off the table.

The World Liberty Congress represents the largest gathering of dissidents in the world: from over 40 countries. We have all risked our lives for the freedom that people in the West all too often take for granted. We understand, at a visceral level, what it is that the Ukrainians are fighting for. They are fighting to join you – the Free World. They are fighting for the right to define their own fate. And for the Free World to be worthy of the hope it inspires in so many of us who suffer under the yoke of oppression, it must answer the call and come to the aid of those fighting on the frontlines of freedom.

We are approaching one year of Russia’s genocidal war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia has killed thousands of peaceful Ukrainians, forcefully deported thousands more to Russia, and left over 15 million Ukrainians as either refugees or internally displaced. Dozens of Ukrainian cities and settlements have been reduced to rubble. Russia is committing human rights violations
and war crimes on a level not seen in 70 years.

Take it from us – those who know what it’s like to live under dictators – Putin will never stop.
He must be stopped. The people of Ukraine understand this fact and have already shown incredible courage, resilience, and ingenuity in defense of their sovereignty. They also showed the whole world that a liberal democracy can stand and fight against a ruthless dictatorship. In order to preserve democratic values around the world, it is our task to help Ukraine win this war
as soon as possible.

With no more hesitation, we urge you to send Ukraine all the assets and military equipment they need to successfully repel Russians from their country and liberate their people from the horrors of occupation. There should be no taboos or restrictions on what equipment can be delivered to Ukraine – no false dichotomies between “offensive” and “defensive” weapons. If it’s being used on Ukrainian territory, by definition, it is a “defensive” weapon. Ukrainians already have the edge in morale, strategy and tactics over Russia; we ask that you give them technical superiority over Russian forces as well.

We understand that one of the most contested issues is the provision of main battle tanks to Ukraine. The Ramstein Group Meeting this week is the perfect venue to resolve this issue once and for all. Supplying Ukraine with tanks will become a turning point in the war and ultimately help ensure global stability in the face of Putin’s threats.

We call on all governments participating in the Ramstein Group Meeting to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they fight for freedom everywhere. Ukraine’s victory will be the single greatest victory for liberal democracy since the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Sincerely,

The World Liberty Congress Leadership Council

Oleksandra Matviichuk (Ukraine)
Garry Kasparov (Russia)
Masih Alinejad (Iran)
Joey Siu (Hong Kong)
Wai Hnin Pwint Thon (Burma)
Wu’er Kaixi (China)
Chemi Lhamo (Tibet)
Nury Turkel (East Turkistan/Xinjiang)
Sunny Cheung (Hong Kong)
Theary Seng (Cambodia)
Mardi Seng (Cambodia)
Felix Agbor Nkongho Balla (Cameroon)
Maximilienne Ngo Mbe (Cameroon)
Gladys Hlatywayo (Zimbabwe)
Beni Carbone (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Carine Kanimba (Rwanda)
Diing Deng Mou Aguer (South Sudan)
Peter Biar Ajak (South Sudan)
Evan Mawarire (Zimbabwe)
Succes Masra (Chad)
Andréi Sánnikov (Belarus)
Ivan Tyutrin (Russia)
Jhanisse Vaca-Daza (Bolivia)
Carolina Barrero (Cuba)
Leopoldo López (Venezuela)
Rosalia Miller (Nicaragua)
Faisal Al-Mutar (Iraq)
Fadi Elsalameen (Palestine)
Sardar Pashaei (Iran)
Roya Mahboob (Afghanistan)
Ammar Abdulhamid (Syria)

Videos from the Congress: Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony.”

#RuzziaUnmasked XIV | Lithuanian & Polish Ministries of Foreign Affairs | January 18, 2023

Russian tactics haven't changed since the carpet-bombing of Grozny and Aleppo. Cities reduced to dust, populations slaughtered and scattered. That is Putin's goal for Ukraine. And then what will be next for his need for escalation? Fight now, stop delaying, save lives. https://t.co/ygsI8QV3Xy

— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) January 15, 2023

In the next installment of the #RuzziaUnmasked series, together with Garry Kasparov @Kasparov63, we discuss Russian crimes against Ukraine.

It is apparent that propaganda has managed to remove all the humanity from its military recruits.

Full episode coming on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/UpF5DNr3E6

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@PolandMFA) January 16, 2023

“Putin should never be given the benefit of doubt. He always lies. He should be perceived as guilty before proved otherwise,” points out Garry Kasparov @Kasparov63, in part XIV of the #RuzziaUnmasked series.

Watch the full episode below

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@PolandMFA) January 18, 2023

As Russia murders civilians in Dnipro, why won’t NATO send weapons that could end the war? | The Philadelphia Inquirer | January 18, 2023

But the best defense is a good offense. Instead of just shooting down missiles, destroy their launch points, wherever they may be. Thousands of civilian lives could have been saved had Ukraine been given such weapons long ago and they still do not have them. Why?

— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) January 16, 2023

This article is a reprint. You can read the original at the Philadelphia Inquirer.

By Trudy Rubin

“To understand why Russia’s war on Ukraine remains the key foreign issue for Americans in 2023, you should watch the video of a Ukrainian mother whose son died when a Russian missile blasted a nine-story apartment building in Dnipro on Saturday.

Timed at midday on the Orthodox New Year holiday, when people would be home, the Russians deliberately fired a 2,000-pound Kh-22 supersonic cruise missile — which was designed to sink aircraft carriers — at a building full of civilians. At least 72 apartments collapsed into a hideous mountain of concrete, household goods, and wires, while some remained partially intact with their front walls sheared off, leaving furniture dangling. The remains of 45 people — including two young doctors, a dentist, a boxing coach, and several children — have been pulled from the rubble so far, and many are still missing.

“Why did you kill him?” the bereaved mother in the video screamed, restrained by a relative as she railed at the Russians. “You used to come here, to our city, we were treating you as normal people, as normal relatives. Let you be cursed your whole life by all people, by me, by all mother’s tears. Let your whole country be cursed.”

In the meantime, Russian TV talk show hosts were praising their country for uniquely embodying traditional Orthodox Christian values, and decrying the Ukrainians — and Americans — as Nazis and Satanists. One prominent Russian official declared, “We are humans, and they [Ukrainians] are nonhumans.” Yet it is Russians who have embraced the inhuman behavior of Nazis.

Vladimir Putin is ready to raze Ukraine to the ground if he can’t conquer the country — so long as the West permits him. Decision time for the NATO allies is right now.

On Friday, NATO defense ministers will meet at Ramstein air base in Germany to discuss how to move forward with aiding Ukraine.

Contrary to popular perception, the U.S. and Europe have still not given Ukraine the weapons to stop Putin.

In Dnipro, Ukraine had no means of shooting down the Kh-22 missile, which had previously caused gruesome damage to civilian targets. Nor does Kyiv yet have the means to stop Russian ballistic missiles — never mind Iranian ballistic missiles, which Tehran may soon send as part of its new military alliance with the Kremlin.

In both cases, long-range Patriot antimissile systems are the only answer. They are required to layer over the mid- and lower-range Western and old Soviet-made systems that have so far prevented total Russian destruction of Ukraine’s power grid.

Ukraine has been begging for Patriots for months. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov told me in July in Kyiv that he was certain the United States would agree to send Patriots by the end of 2022, but by then thousands of Ukrainian civilians would have died.

Reznikov was correct. Dnipro is only the latest victim of Russian terror attacks as I saw in July in Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and other cities where Russia’s missiles have shattered apartment buildings, markets, hospitals, and schools.

As Reznikov foresaw, the United States and Germany finally agreed to send one Patriot battery each in late December (the Netherlands will probably send a third). But one battery can only defend part of a city and requires months of training — which the Ukrainians are just beginning — to operate it

So if the decision has belatedly been made on Patriots, why not send sufficient batteries to protect key cities and targets?

Administration excuses about shortage of batteries and high cost of missiles don’t wash if the goal is for Ukraine to survive until victory. More than a dozen U.S. allies possess Patriot batteries that could be donated — and sophisticated Ukrainians aren’t likely to overuse the missiles.

What are Washington and its NATO allies waiting for?

And if the Patriot barrier has been crossed, why not give the Ukrainians the long-range U.S. precision missiles — known as ATACMS — that could stop Russian missiles at launch?

As chess champion and prescient Ukraine defender Garry Kasparov tweeted, “The best defense is a good offense. Instead of just shooting down missiles, destroy their launch points, wherever they may be. Thousands of civilian lives could have been saved had Ukraine been given such weapons long ago and they still do not have them. Why?”

What is the White House waiting for?

Moreover, if NATO allies have finally recognized the reality that Putin will only quit occupied Ukrainian land if the Russians are driven out militarily, why not finally give them the tanks to do so? Germany’s Hamlet-like Chancellor Olaf Scholz is still dithering over whether to send German-made Leopard 2 tanks that Ukraine desperately needs (and has just appointed a new defense minister with no military experience). He won’t even green-light other NATO members who are willing to send their Leopards to Ukraine.

Light armored vehicles being sent by Berlin and Washington are helpful but not tough enough. So far, only the British have had guts enough to promise a small number of tanks to Ukraine in hopes of prodding Germany and other NATO members. President Joe Biden’s leadership is needed.

What is Germany waiting for?

There is no way to end the Ukraine war unless Putin’s dreams of restoring imperial Russia are defeated on the battlefield. The rage of a Dnipro mother reflects an entire country’s existential battle to drive out the Russians, whom Ukrainians now consider to be fascists, or — as they call them — “ruscists.”

But if this war drags on — because Ukraine doesn’t have enough of the right weapons — the country could be totally laid waste. If Russia isn’t ousted from Ukraine, Putin may regroup and try again, or try elsewhere to restore imperial grandeur, no matter the cost to his country.

The time to end this war is this year, by giving Kyiv everything it needs to defeat Putin. What are we waiting for?”

Studying Chess with a Legend: Kasparov Trains Young Talents | ChessBase | January 3, 2023

Kids keep getting stronger at younger ages, but I still have a few things to teach them! Plus, working with young talents helps keep me sharp! https://t.co/ncC1TiZ7jN pic.twitter.com/B1xHygZWVw

— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) January 4, 2023

This article is a reprint. You can read the original at ChessBase.

“1/3/2023 – The Kasparov Chess Foundation (KCF) celebrated its 20th anniversary this year with a gala on November 16th. However, the gala event was not the last event of the year as there was one more work session left. In the week before Christmas, from December 16-18, Garry Kasparov trained six talented youngsters, who had an average age of 13 and an average Elo rating of 2490. | Photos: Kasparov Chess Foundation

New York Young Stars Session

KCF and Saint Louis Chess Club have been running the very successful Young Stars – Team USA program for the past six years. Team USA’s program has helped develop several American chess prodigies from across the country. including the likes of GM Jeffery Xiong and GM Sam Sevian. Team USA has been capped off with individualized training sessions with Kasparov’s coaching staff and special training sessions with Garry Kasparov himself.

Garry Kasparov lead the session and was assisted by FIDE Senior Trainer Michael Khodarkovsky. The venue was the KCF’s modern offices in Midtown, Manhattan, and it ran

This session’s strong participants had an average age of only 13, but an amazing 2490 FIDE rating average!

GMs Christopher Yoo 2575 (CA)GM Abhimanyu Mishra 2549 (NJ)IM Jason Liang 2514 (NY)IM Dimitar Mardov 2429 (IL)FM Ryo Chen 2379 (TX)FM Tani Adewumi 2314 (NY)

Both FIDE masters in the above list are only 12 years of age and are quickly gaining national and international recognition for their outstanding results.

All participants presented six annotated games, which were thoroughly analyzed in the class during the first two days.

GM Christopher Yoo was not about to let travel issues stop his training. This young grandmaster comes fresh off first place at the incredibly strong US Chess Masters in Charlotte, North Carolina. Shortly after this session, Christopher departed for the World Rapid and Blitz in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Ryo Chen hard at work under strong supervision

The third day was long and full of evaluations. The players were tasked with solving all kinds of exercises in order to determine their strengths and weaknesses.

Back row: Abhi Mishra, Michael Khodarkovsky, Jason Liang Middle Row: Dimitar Mardov Front row: Tani Adewumi, Garry Kasparov, Ryo Chen, looking in disbelief standing next to the legend.

The third day coincided with the World Cup Final. Thanks to the modern facilities in the KCF offices, all participants  could divide their time between their rigorous test and a thrilling World Cup Final. The parents were able to enjoy the match without the grueling puzzles!

Dimitar had the following impressions from the camp:

“I was a little nervous but then I realized I wasn’t the only newcomer – I think it was the first time for Tani and Ryo. Although I didn’t know what to exactly expect, I was eager to get insights from the legendary world champion. The first two days consisted of all 6 participants presenting 6 games of theirs. During our presentations, Kasparov would give his thoughts on the games and we would all analyze key positions in the games as a group. Oftentimes, the games would reach very complicated tactical positions, and everyone would work together to break apart the positions. On the final day of the camp, Kasparov gave us very hard studies to solve. When the test was over, we were able to watch the exciting end of the FIFA 2022 finals between Argentina and France. Overall, this was a great experience and I hope to be back soon.”

One of those “very hard studies”:

Pervakov, Oleg, 1995. White to move. Solution further below.

GM Abhimanyu Mishra

GM Abhimanyu Mishra is a focused and intense chess player. He flew immediately from the training camp to St. Louis for the 2022 SPICE Cup Open. Abhimanyu was able to immediately put his lessons into action. Abhi was simply on fire and tied for first. Our current Young Star lost the playoff for the trophy on a head to head tiebreak with former Young Star Awonder Liang!

Tani, Ryo, Abhi, Dimitar and Jason

Puzzle Solution:

1. b8=Q Bd6! 2. Qxd6! Rg2+! 3. Kxg2 Kh4+! 4. Ng4! Qxd6 5. Ne5!!

Young Stars has open admission for talented kids from all over the World to apply to this elite program. Candidates may apply by submitting the application found here: KCF YoungStars Application. The program is open for talented players that are nine (9) years of age on January 1, 2023, and not older than thirteen (13) years of age on January 1, 2023.

Send the full applications to: youngstars@kasparovchessfoundation.org

Representing the Russian Action Committee in Europe | Germany | January 25-27, 2023

A brief update on my travels on behalf of the Russian Action Committee to advocate for more support for Ukraine and the establishment of relations to prepare for a free Russia after Putin’s end. https://t.co/AKWFvtshp1

— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) January 25, 2023

Thank you for hosting me, for listening, and acting! https://t.co/bc1jgxs1ev

— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) January 25, 2023

Inlett dagen på EPP-möte tillsammans med @Kasparov63, @gudkovd och andra ryska dissidenter. Skräckfyllda berättelser inifrån Ryssland och en tydlig signal: Ryssland är en diktatur utan återvändo, och att det bara är rysk förlust i Ukraina som kan tvinga fram regimskifte i Kreml. pic.twitter.com/T3HIY99Oj7

— Gustaf Göthberg (@gustafgothberg) January 25, 2023

“Wars between ideologies don’t end at the negotiation table. This is not #chess, there is no draw – either we win or we lose.”

“I don’t think Putin’s Russia can survive another year under these sanctions.”

Garry @Kasparov63 heute beim @welt-Wirtschaftsgipfel über den -Krieg. pic.twitter.com/9uh9r86jem

— Olaf Gersemann (@OlafGersemann) January 24, 2023

Der 14. @welt Wirtschaftsgipfel in Berlin hat neue
Maßstäbe gesetzt. es ging darum neue Lösungsansätze für globalen Krisen der Welt zu entwickeln. Prominente Gäste wie @Bundeskanzler, Jens Stoltenberg, @c_lindner, und @Kasparov63 machten den Event einzigartig. pic.twitter.com/IQVNjRUIQF

— Knut Döring (@Knut_Fabian) January 25, 2023

Thanks to @Kasparov63 @UrielEpshtein (@Renew_Democracy) + @antjeschippmann for fruitful exchange on further support of our Ukrainian friends. Freedom, democracy + territorial integrity are crucial. The future of Ukraine lies in the very heart of the united Europe. #SlavaUkraini pic.twitter.com/9OjV1yc7cM

— Michael Roth MdB (@MiRo_SPD) January 27, 2023

Declaration of the Russian Action Committee on the Vision of the Future of Russia | December 30, 2022

New from the Russian Action Committee on victory for Ukraine (attached) and a vision with detailed steps to dismantle the Russian terrorist state & its imperialist policies and installing a limited, representative, & regionally empowered govt. Read: https://t.co/4hSaCDuSoF pic.twitter.com/ZFgCyJRqls

— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) December 30, 2022

This article is a reprint. You can read the original declaration at the website of the Russian Action Commitee.

“We, the citizens of Russia, who created the Russian Action Committee, believe that by unleashing an aggressive, bloody war in Ukraine, Putin’s regime has made its own collapse inevitable. Therefore, building a democratic movement that can take over in Russia after Putin is one of the most important issues on the current political agenda.

Tens of millions of Russian citizens want to see their country become peaceful, free, and prosperous. We are ready to take on their political representation and offer our vision of Russia’s post-Putin future.

Our main goal is the re-establishment of the Russian state on the principles of the rule of law, federalism, parliamentarism, a clear separation of powers and prioritizing human rights and freedoms over abstract “state interests”.

Our vision of the future of Russia is a parliamentary republic and a federal state, in which only the most general powers necessary for the implementation of foreign policy, defense, and protection of the rights of its citizens are owned by the center, with the transfer of most state powers, including in the budgetary sphere to the regional level.

After the dissolution of Putin’s regime, we believe it will be necessary to hold elections to the Constituent Assembly within 24 months, when a new Constitution of Russia and other decisions regarding the future of the country will be adopted, including a new system of state bodies. Before the convocation of the Constituent Assembly, we propose a transitional procedure for governing the state by creating a temporary state body — the State Council (which will have legislative functions). This will form the nucleus of a technocratic government with the participation of representatives from various political forces. This will be key to the operational management of the country during the transition period.

Under the authority of the State Council, we will implement the following program:The immediate conclusion of peace with Ukraine on the condition of recognizing the 1991 borders and compensation for the damage caused by aggression, including through the frozen assets of the Russian Federation;The rejection of the imperial policy of Russia, both within the country and abroad. This includes the rejection of formal or informal support for entities in the countries of the former USSR not recognized by the UN;Cessation of confrontation with the West along with a transition to a foreign policy based on peace, partnership, and integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions;Decentralization of the country and the transfer of broad powers to the regions, including in the budgetary sphere;The demilitarization of Russia, the reduction of its militarized structures and the cost of their maintenance;Release of all political prisoners and their full rehabilitation on politically motivated charges;Offering a broad amnesty program to reduce the number of prisoners and offer those released a speedy return to normal life;The abolition of all repressive laws adopted during Putin’s rule, including all legislative acts that contributed to the establishment of a dictatorship in the country;The dissolution of the repressive bodies that perform the functions of the political police: the FSB and the Centers for Combating Extremism;Trials for war criminals and active regime officials who contributed to the establishment of a dictatorship in the country; extradition of war criminals to international judicial authorities;Conducting lustration at the federal level;The immediate liquidation of all political parties and public organizations that supported the invasion of Ukraine, so that they can not interfere with the construction of a new Russia;Liberalization of electoral legislation, simplifying the registration of political parties, allowing the creation of regional parties. Returning to the declarative procedure for holding rallies, strikes, and demonstrations;Without prejudging the decisions of the Constituent Assembly, we declare that we will achieve:A significant expansion of the powers of the regional parliaments;A transfer of power to enable us to form the government of Russia — the future parliament, the structure and format of which will be determined by the Constituent Assembly;Transition to an electoral process for the upper house of parliament that will limit the possibility of forming a one-party cabinet;Enshrining in the Constitution a limited list of powers transferred to the federal center in accordance with the Constitution/Federal Treaty;Exclusion from the Constitution and legislation of Russia of the concept of joint jurisdiction, with a corresponding redistribution of budgetary powers;Restoring the election of mayors of cities and heads of municipalities, enshrining a minimum list of rights of local governments and guarantees of their budgetary security in the Constitution;Freeing the judiciary from the control of the executive branch;Division of courts into federal, regional, and local, the appointment of judges, respectively, by the federal parliament, regional parliament, and/or through direct elections by citizens;Widespread introduction of jury trials for all categories of crimes, to limit judicial arbitrariness and ensure maximum access to justice;Judicial confiscation of property illegally obtained by Putin, his entourage, and accomplices, and its transfer to funds belonging directly to all citizens of Russia;Transparent distribution of natural rent between the subjects of the federation and citizens of Russia on a fair basis.”

Declaration of the Russian Committee of Action | December 30, 2022

New from the Russian Action Committee on victory for Ukraine (attached) and a vision with detailed steps to dismantle the Russian terrorist state & its imperialist policies and installing a limited, representative, & regionally empowered govt. Read: https://t.co/4hSaCDuSoF pic.twitter.com/ZFgCyJRqls

— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) December 30, 2022

This article is a reprint. You can read the original declaration at the website of the Russian Action Commitee.

“We, the citizens of Russia, who created the Russian Action Committee, believe that by unleashing an aggressive, bloody war in Ukraine, Putin’s regime has made its own collapse inevitable. Therefore, building a democratic movement that can take over in Russia after Putin is one of the most important issues on the current political agenda.

Tens of millions of Russian citizens want to see their country become peaceful, free, and prosperous. We are ready to take on their political representation and offer our vision of Russia’s post-Putin future.

Our main goal is the re-establishment of the Russian state on the principles of the rule of law, federalism, parliamentarism, a clear separation of powers and prioritizing human rights and freedoms over abstract “state interests”.

Our vision of the future of Russia is a parliamentary republic and a federal state, in which only the most general powers necessary for the implementation of foreign policy, defense, and protection of the rights of its citizens are owned by the center, with the transfer of most state powers, including in the budgetary sphere to the regional level.

After the dissolution of Putin’s regime, we believe it will be necessary to hold elections to the Constituent Assembly within 24 months, when a new Constitution of Russia and other decisions regarding the future of the country will be adopted, including a new system of state bodies. Before the convocation of the Constituent Assembly, we propose a transitional procedure for governing the state by creating a temporary state body — the State Council (which will have legislative functions). This will form the nucleus of a technocratic government with the participation of representatives from various political forces. This will be key to the operational management of the country during the transition period.

Under the authority of the State Council, we will implement the following program:The immediate conclusion of peace with Ukraine on the condition of recognizing the 1991 borders and compensation for the damage caused by aggression, including through the frozen assets of the Russian Federation;The rejection of the imperial policy of Russia, both within the country and abroad. This includes the rejection of formal or informal support for entities in the countries of the former USSR not recognized by the UN;Cessation of confrontation with the West along with a transition to a foreign policy based on peace, partnership, and integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions;Decentralization of the country and the transfer of broad powers to the regions, including in the budgetary sphere;The demilitarization of Russia, the reduction of its militarized structures and the cost of their maintenance;Release of all political prisoners and their full rehabilitation on politically motivated charges;Offering a broad amnesty program to reduce the number of prisoners and offer those released a speedy return to normal life;The abolition of all repressive laws adopted during Putin’s rule, including all legislative acts that contributed to the establishment of a dictatorship in the country;The dissolution of the repressive bodies that perform the functions of the political police: the FSB and the Centers for Combating Extremism;Trials for war criminals and active regime officials who contributed to the establishment of a dictatorship in the country; extradition of war criminals to international judicial authorities;Conducting lustration at the federal level;The immediate liquidation of all political parties and public organizations that supported the invasion of Ukraine, so that they can not interfere with the construction of a new Russia;Liberalization of electoral legislation, simplifying the registration of political parties, allowing the creation of regional parties. Returning to the declarative procedure for holding rallies, strikes, and demonstrations;Without prejudging the decisions of the Constituent Assembly, we declare that we will achieve:A significant expansion of the powers of the regional parliaments;A transfer of power to enable us to form the government of Russia — the future parliament, the structure and format of which will be determined by the Constituent Assembly;Transition to an electoral process for the upper house of parliament that will limit the possibility of forming a one-party cabinet;Enshrining in the Constitution a limited list of powers transferred to the federal center in accordance with the Constitution/Federal Treaty;Exclusion from the Constitution and legislation of Russia of the concept of joint jurisdiction, with a corresponding redistribution of budgetary powers;Restoring the election of mayors of cities and heads of municipalities, enshrining a minimum list of rights of local governments and guarantees of their budgetary security in the Constitution;Freeing the judiciary from the control of the executive branch;Division of courts into federal, regional, and local, the appointment of judges, respectively, by the federal parliament, regional parliament, and/or through direct elections by citizens;Widespread introduction of jury trials for all categories of crimes, to limit judicial arbitrariness and ensure maximum access to justice;Judicial confiscation of property illegally obtained by Putin, his entourage, and accomplices, and its transfer to funds belonging directly to all citizens of Russia;Transparent distribution of natural rent between the subjects of the federation and citizens of Russia on a fair basis.”

On the Shutting Down of the Moscow Helsinki Group | The Russian Anti-War Committee | December 26, 2022

Russian Anti-War Committee
On the Shutting Down of the Moscow Helsinki Group

“Dear friends, we have always followed your work with admiration & we are sure that you will prevail. We are all in great need of you! Good luck & strength to you!”

Statement https://t.co/k53psUlzvS pic.twitter.com/eyQ1o51boK

— Mikhail Khodorkovsky (English) (@mbk_center) December 28, 2022

You can read the original declaration at the website of the Russian Anti-War Committee.

“The Russian authorities are closing down and outlawing the country’s oldest human rights organization, the Moscow Helsinki Group. For several decades the Moscow Helsinki Group has worked to protect people and the country from lawlessness, but now lawlessness has become the law. The Moscow Helsinki Group has always advocated dialogue with the authorities, but the current authorities communicate only among themselves and have no need of dialogue with anyone.

The Moscow Helsinki Group is inseparable from Russia’s recent history – the regime has erased the country’s history. The Moscow Helsinki Group has not only defended human rights. It has set an example of fortitude and faithfulness to the principles of humanism and dignity. It stood up to the forces of darkness and war, it proved every day that it is possible to act and remain human in any situation. And it will continue to do so! The Moscow Helsinki Group is not bank accounts or premises. It is not the ‘legal entity.’ The Moscow Helsinki Group is people who believe in their fellow countrymen and women and in their country. These are people who cannot be intimidated. These are people who cannot be forced to give up the fight.

Dear friends, we have always followed your work with admiration and we are sure that you will prevail. We are all in great need of you! Good luck and strength to you!

Members of the Russian Anti-War Committee

Sergei Aleksashenko, economistMarat Gelman, galeristLeonid Gozman, politician, psychologistDmitry Gudkov, politicianSergei Guriev, economistBoris Zimin, entrepreneurMikhail Kasyanov, politician, former Prime Minister of RussiaMikhail Kokorich, entrepreneur, engineerElena Lukyanova, lawyerYury Pivovarov, historian, member of Russian Academy of SciencesMikhail Khodorkovsky, public figureEvgeny Chichvarkin, entrepreneur”