Overview

• The FIDE general assembly voted to uphold the ban on Russian and Belarusian chess teams imposed after the 2022 Ukraine invasion.
• A proposal to consult the IOC on allowing disabled and junior players from Russia and Belarus to compete was approved.
• Sixty-six countries supported the motion to maintain the ban, while 21 countries voted to lift all sanctions.
• Russian and Belarusian players can still participate in international events under a neutral flag, following IOC guidelines.
• The decision was seen as a victory for Ukraine, which had urged FIDE to maintain the sanctions to hold Russia accountable.