Former Russian deputy prime minister Arkady Dvorkovich, who is also the head of the World Chess Organization (FIDE), has condemned the war in Ukraine.
In an interview with US publication Mother Jones, he said: ‘Wars are the worst things one might face in life. Any wars. Anywhere. Including this war. My thoughts are with Ukrainian civilians.’
Dvorkovich, who served as a deputy prime minister from 2012 to 2018 following a stint as the top Kremlin economic adviser to then-President Dmitry Medvedev, added: ‘Wars do not just take precious lives. Wars take away dreams and aspirations, freeze and destroy relationships and ties.’
According to Reuters, Dvorkovich said he remained in Russia.
The BBC reports that, earlier this month, FIDE officials unanimously condemned Russia for its invasion, and banned Russia and Belarus from competition.
It also stripped the title of ambassador for life from former world chess champion Anatoly Karpov, a current Russian MP who voted in the State Duma for recognition of two separatist-backed regions of eastern Ukraine.
Several Ukrainian chess players have also criticised Dvorkovich for his previous work for the Russian government.