2024-05-07 14:51:06
In the first world online chess championship “For Prisoners”, in which 43 teams from 31 countries participate, Armenia is represented by four convicts kept in “Armavir” and “Vanadzor” penitentiary institutions: Robert Sargsyan, Narek Hovakimyan, Igit Grigoryan and Armen Goroyan.
Minister of Justice Karen Andreasyan participated in the opening ceremony of the Championship with the founder-chairman of the Chess Academy, four-time champion of Armenia, grandmaster Smbat Lputyan and the head of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice Sergey Atomyan, and before the start of the game, he talked with the convicts and wished them success in the competition.
In a conversation with journalists, Minister Andreasyan noted that this is an exceptional example when imprisoned people are able to return to society through chess. “Chess connects all the people of the world, it is a sport, it is an art, chess is also the pride of our Armenia, and our victory in this championship, even if it is symbolic, will be very important for our team and our country,” said Karen Andreasyan and emphasized the need to expand programs aimed at ensuring the employment of persons held in penal institutions.
The minister appeared at the event wearing a tie that was gifted by the Italian Minister of Justice, which was handmade by Italian convicts. “Italy does everything so that convicted people are not isolated or forgotten by society, but find their way back to their family, to society, to their state. Today, we are also trying to achieve that goal through chess, for which I personally thank Mr. Lputyan and the Chess Academy of Armenia,” said Karen Andreasyan.
The founder-president of the academy, Smbat Lputyan, considered the first world championship on the online platform a great event and emphasized that the International Chess Federation (FIDE) is following this tournament with great attention. He also informed that preparatory works were carried out with the convicts for about six months and, in that context, he thanked the Ministry and the Penitentiary Service for their smooth and effective cooperation.
The head of the Penitentiary Service, Sergey Atomyan, wished success to the Armenian convicts and thanked the President of the Academy for making the Armenian convicts participate in such a global event. Sergey Atomyan also highlighted the importance of ensuring the employment of persons kept in prisons and noted that the goal is through work, cultural, sports, spiritual and other employment. Let us know that the results of the World Chess Championship will be summarized on October 14.
We should also remind that in the “Chess for Freedom” international demonstration tournament held on May 11, 2021, the convicts’ team of Armenia took an honorable third place in the fight against the convicts of Russia, the USA and Spain.