RUSSIA ACCUSES CHESS GRANDMASTER GARRY GASPAROV OF A COUP PLOT

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a criminal case against exiled Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky and 22 other members of the Russian Antiwar Committee (RAC) for "involvement in a terrorist community" and "attempting to seize power by force".

"FSB opens terrorism case against 22 members of Russian Antiwar Committee in exile"

Novaya Gazeta Europe, 14 October 2025

According to FSB, the goal of the RAC, which was established by Khodorkovsky in 2022, is “the violent seizure of power and the overthrow of the constitutional order in Russia”.

According to FSB, Khodorkovsky and his allies, including former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, and opposition activists Vladimir Kara-Murza and Andrey Pivovarov,

“...provide funding to Ukrainian nationalist paramilitary units, designated as terrorist groups by Russia, and also conduct recruiting activities… for these units for their subsequent use in their plot of a forceful seizure of power in the Russia.”

The full statement of FSB can be read in Russian:

"ФСБ России возбуждено уголовное дело в отношении экс-главы компании 'ЮКОС' Михаила Ходорковского и членов 'Антивоенного комитета России'"

14.10.2025

RedHotPawn has Deleted my Post on Garry Kasparov

It seems that the RedHotPawn (RHP) has deleted my recent post (in the Debates forum) with the following caption:

"Russia Accuses Chess Grandmaster Garry Kasparov of a Coup Plot"

That post was absolutely correct, neutral, innocent and purely descriptive. 

Essentially, that post was merely a sharing of the article from Novaya Gazeta Europe, 14 October 2025.

After I published that post on the RHP, one user replied with an insulting comment, in which she made a false accusation that I were defending authoritarian regimes and the FSB. Besides, that comment was altogether unrelated to my post.

After that, I reported that user to the RHP.

After that, the following events happened:

1. My live rapid game was stuck in a winning position; I had an extra queen and was about to checkmate my opponent in 3 moves. I had 14 minutes left. Later, that game vanished from the RHP altogether, as if it had never been played.
2. My post on Garry Kasparov vanished from the Forum.
3. The user who publicly slandered me and about whom I wrote a report continues to reply to my posts and comments.

Now, the next things will happen:

• I shall cancel my subscription to RHP. 
• I shall not play live chess on the RHP anymore. 
• I shall continue playing correspondence chess games on RHP until the current payment allows.
• I shall not recommend the RHP to anyone.

LICHESS'S HIDDEN POLITICAL CENSORSHIP

A few days ago, in the US, a public figure, Charlie Kirk, was publicly assassinated during his speech at the university.

Lichess is a very popular chess platform that also has a Forum. The forum has the "Off-Topic Discussion" section. Shortly after the assassination, the thread "Charlie Kirk was shot" appeared there. It began so:

"I checked the news, and there was the report on Charlie Kirk getting shot at Utah university." (...) #1

That thread quickly became popular. I wrote post number 65:

"There was freedom of speech in the Soviet Union. If you had an opinion, you could speak up. But you weren't allowed near the microphone.

There is freedom of speech in the United States. If you have an opinion, you can speak up. But you'll die with the microphone in your hand." #65

Lichess shows me that my comment is published. I have received no notification that it has not been published. There is no place on Lichess where I can see that my account is restricted (if it is).

My post No. 65, as it is shown to me

However, the next comment also has the number 65. 

If I look at Lichess in another browser, where I am not logged in to Lichess, then I see that my post is not visible to others. The others are even unaware that I have posted something. And I am unaware that my comment is invisible.

My post is not visible to others

Therefore, I would like to add:

"There is freedom of speech on the chess platform Lichess. If you have an opinion, you can speak up. But you do not know that your microphone has been switched off."

I do not recommend using such chess platforms as ChessCOM or Lichess, because they are the enemies of free speech and they hypocritically pretend to promote free speech.

Their censorship is often hidden and ideologically-politically motivated. At the same time, very nasty comments are not censored, not taken down.

Using ChessCOM is particularly dubious because it is a paid service platform, so by using it, you are sponsoring a kind of fascism. 

One should also refrain from making donations to Lichess, as donating to Lichess effectively supports the enemies of freedom.

I have completely abandoned ChessCOM and I will never donate to Lichess.

KASPAROV: EUROPE'S FUTURE DEPENDS ON CONFRONTATION

Garry Kasparov and Gabrielius Landsbergis have published an essay

"Europe’s Future Depends on Confrontation, Not Compromise"

Politico, 08/03/2025

I am far from being sure that all the descriptions provided in that article correspond to reality.
For example:

• The article argues that the European Union is based on a free market, free trade. However, to my knowledge, one of the reasons why the European Union was established was to ruin the Soviet Union economically. The European Union has applied economic sanctions, economic boycotts, etc.
• The article contains grave factual mistakes/omissions concerning the "Minsk Agreements". It is public knowledge that Ukraine never intended to follow these agreements.
• The article ignores the fact that the European Commission is an unelected organ. 
• Etc. 

When a chessplayer starts to write about politics, I would like to see some ability for analysis.

In Kasparov's case, unfortunately, I have always seen only a propaganda of a one-sided and largely unfounded narrative.

FIVE EXTRA PAWNS

Five extra pawns did not save Black

Recently, I had a fascinating correspondence chess game on the Chesstempo. Finally, my opponent had five extra pawns, but I had better development, and my opponent's knight was pinned. Then, my opponent had five extra pawns against my extra piece. The opponent had almost finished developing, while weakening their pawn structure. I was not sure whether I could win or even make a draw. A computer analysis says I had a better position. However, suddenly, my opponent made a blunder...

For the analysis, see below.