Armed Russian law-enforcement officers raided the office of chess player-turned-opposition politician Garry Kasparov on Tuesday on suspicion of “extremist activity,” Kasparov said on Moscow radio station Ekho Moskvy.
About 20 agents, both from police ranks and the Federal Security Service (FSB), a KGB successor organization, arrived at the Moscow headquarters of Kasparov’s United Civil Front party Tuesday afternoon, the youngest-ever World Chess Champion told Ekho Moskvy.
The officers demanded staffers turn off computers and mobile phones and took part of the party newspaper’s print run, according to a statement on Kasparov’s website. The search of Kasparov’s office ended after about 2 1/2 hours, the website statement said.
It was unclear which court labelled Kasparov’s political activity extremist, or why.
The full article can be read here.
What do you think of Kasparov’s decision to run for the Presidency of Russia?
I, personally, will always doubt on suposedly good intentions of Gary Kasparov.
I am not denying that what he says about Russia and its corruption is true. It must be, and perhaps Russia has never had a real democracy, but I don’t trust Gary Kasparov.
I think that Kasparov’s got an ugly side, which he showed many times, namely, Linares 1994.
I think, however, that anyone could be better than Putin.
>>Armed Russian law-enforcement officers raided the office of chess player-turned-opposition politician Garry Kasparov on Tuesday on suspicion of “extremist activity,” Kasparov said on Moscow radio station Ekho Moskvy.
>>
Extremist activity?
“Mr. Kasparov. We have evidence that you’re considering playing the Schliemann Defense.”
I personally think that Kasparov’s life calling was on the chessboard. But he is magnificently intelligent in other aspects as well and should succeed in whatever he says out to do because of his grit determination. Personally, I wish him all the best but I surely hope he realizes that what he attempts to do will be unliked by many and could be detrimental to his safety. All in all, I think Gary would be an excellent President, if given the chance, and the Russian people should really choose what is best for their children and not themselves.
Putin is busy building a renewed authoritarian state with his old buddies from the intel services. I wish Kasparov luck, but I hope he doesn’t wind up like Politikovskaya.
anyone know what kasparov official site is? i tried googling but came up with the ibm/ deepblue site
Kasparov needs to be careful…this is typical Putin – to ‘test the reactionary waters’ before he puts a bullet in someone.
Kasparov’s drive to enter himself into martyrdom is going to be his down fall. You can be RIGHT and still be WRONG if you know what I mean…
I, myself, would have preferred to see him stay involved as at least an ambassador to the game that game him his spot in the limelight.
I don’t think that either Putin or Kasparov make good leaders. They are both egomaniacs who do whatever serves them best. But in the end, Kasparov is going to end up on the short end because he doesn’t have the former KGB goons covering his back.
Here is the problem: The authorities don’t see Kaparov a threat as a candidate. He get’s into a little trouble by banding together with other opposition parties, which makes him a greater threat. It is the march itself, my friends. In non-democratics societies, a march is not as in London or Washington. A march is often a disguised putsch or coup. They don’t want Gary’s Ludendorf-like credibility in the front line with the pictures being taken. The march itself would not be an immediate threat, but the state wants to destroy any model for ANY future threat. Gary had better take notice. The break-in into his office was really a “courtesy call.” They don’t really want to eliminate him, but history suggests that they can, and maybe, will. Make sure that you don’t “sacrifice the King”, Gary. And Putin is not the King that I am talking about. This is definitely a time for clear thinking.
Yes, churchill40, much alike his namesake makes many good points. Also, this could be a staged break-in whereby Gary has sold out to Putin and is now “playing the game” or staged to achieve credibility.
politics and chess may seem similar, but the sicilian wont find expression IP
I just can’t wait for the election to be over, and Kasparov forgets this pipedream and comes back to professional chess.
Heh! Let’s all go to Russia and make them our friends!
Very sad and disturbing. Kasparov has been magnificent and brave when he could have been silent, safe and comfortable. It’s sad to see how Soviet thuggery has outlasted the Soviet Union. Good luck to him.
WOW!!! What is Kasparov thinking?
After the journalist was shot the former agent was poisoned and the oil tycoon was jailed what chance does a Chess Player have against Putin???
The best case scenario is that he ends up in Siberia with Mikhail Khodorkovsky and is not the victim of stray Polonium dust that might be around.
For the sake of his family I hope he returns to the chess board.
Uh? Since when is Kasparov running for President of Russia?
Also, this kind of thing is not unexpected when you join ranks with fascists (Limonov and his gang – the latest is that they are organising a march together, the raid was connected to that) and accept money from the USA through the NED to fund your political activities.
Kasparov is not a martyr, not a hero. He’s actually quite despicable on the political arena. Best-case scenario – he comes back to chess and preferably promises to keep his mouth shut.
Oh, and all these posts taking for granted that the Kremlin is somehow involved in the Politkovskaya and Litvinenko murders are crazy. There is not the slightest evidence, and it’s very unlikely to have been like that, especially in the latter case.
…Move to the USA. Why risk the chance of atomic-poisoning or assassination???
Gary has a family and kids, for heaven’s sake. Russia is not friendly to Jews. Too many have disappeared or been killed. Russia and Mexico are the most corrupt places to live. America needs Gary and his genius. If you want to go for the Political Arena; there are plenty of things in need of fixing here. Chances are you won’t be killed, either.
It is not fair to compare Putin to Stalin. Putin is much more like Nikolai Yezhov.
It is not fair to compare Putin to Stalin. Putin is much more like Nikolai Yezhov.
Kasparov as president of Russia?
Hard to tell. We know he is a great chess player. That doesn’t mean he would be a good politician. While it is tempting to assume that the ability of looking ahead in chess moves translates into the ability to look ahead in totally non-chess related matters, the real life examples don’t suggest that. For example, I am reasonably sure that Bobby Fischer didn’t plan ahead that in his old age he will be a recluse in Iceland. Many similar examples would be possible.
Does Kasparov have what it takes to run a country the size of Russia, with all the problems of Russia? Maybe, maybe not.
Yet, I am willing to “bet” that he won’t be the president of Russia. Why? Well….I don’t think the russian people will elect a jewish person to run the country. Not even if that person happens to be so talented, that he could turn Russia into a paradise. Not even if that person happens to have the fame of Kasparov.
Gabor
It is not fair to compare Putin to Stalin. Putin is much more like Nikolai Yezhov.
Starlin was the hand of death
The former KGB has always been used as an instrument of terror. If KAsparov polled strongly or he vocally spoke about corruption uncovered (usually ploiticans are in league with the oligarchs interest; I feel Kasparov would be discredited. I can cite examples they would use 1) the race card his Jewish or Armenian ancestry 2) compromise him. An example a prosecutor was alleged to be filmed in a hotel room with 2 female prostitutes. They virtually blackmail him to stop his investigation of corruption with the Boris Yelson family. Or 3) liquidated / assasinated by contract or more devious like an accident. Recently an ex KGB agent was contaminated with radiation and die a horrible deth.
At the moment they make it difficult for Kasparov to operate. close down his offices, attack his employees one badly beaten up, threaten or fire people etc. KAsparov is very stubbon and the people he is surrounded by may not be his ral supporters. they will have agents / snooping listening devices / intelligence survelliance / on his activities. Kasparov is a threat because he could bbring about real domractic change.
There is something wrong going on in Russia at the moment…I hope it will be fixed, by Kasparov or by anyone else.