Kazakhstani chess federation head Timur Turlov won the presidency of FIDE on September 26, 2026, defeating challenger Vadim Rosenstein. Turlov subsequently appointed Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak as an executive vice-president, sparking sharp condemnation from the Ukrainian Chess Federation amid ongoing sanctions against Turlov.
Timur Turlov Secures FIDE Presidency in Samarkand
The leadership of international chess changed hands at the General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where 38-year-old Timur Turlov was elected FIDE president. Turlov, a Moscow-born Kazakhstani businessman and the founder and CEO of Freedom Holding Corp., secured 110 votes out of 196 in the second round of voting. He surpassed Vadim Rosenstein, a German-based businessman born in Ukraine, who received 85 votes. A third contender, Jan Henrik Büttner, garnered 20 votes in the first round before being eliminated.
With this outcome, world chess comes under non-Russian leadership for the first time in 31 years. Turlov takes over the organization for a 2026–2030 term alongside 15th world champion Viswanathan Anand, who serves as the deputy president. Anand had been serving as interim FIDE chief following the departure of the prior administration.
Mykhailo Podolyak Joins FIDE Leadership Amid Ukrainian Sanctions
Shortly after securing the presidency, Turlov named Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak as one of the organization’s executive vice-presidents. The appointment immediately triggered a fierce political and institutional backlash inside Ukraine.
Turlov has been under personal Ukrainian sanctions since October 2022, alongside his financial firm, Freedom Finance Ukraine
. Kyiv enacted these measures following the full-scale Russian invasion, despite Turlov obtaining Kazakhstani citizenship and relinquishing his Russian passport in 2022 after having previously closed his business ventures in Russia in 2017.
Addressing the controversy in a video statement, Podolyak defended his acceptance of the post and dismissed the 2022 restrictions against the businessman as a bit strange
, noting that Turlov operates primarily on global stock markets with a parent holding based in the United States. Podolyak asserted that his role is designed to advance Ukrainian interests and diminish Russian influence within global sports governance.
My role is the absolute concrete use of a platform, a global platform, in order to promote Ukraine's interests, in order to reduce Russia's influence, in order to be able to obtain additional opportunities for pressure, informational pressure. Mykhailo
Ukrainian Chess Federation Condemns the Appointment and Demands Investigation
The Ukrainian Chess Federation (FSU) swiftly rejected Podolyak’s inclusion in the FIDE governing body, releasing statements declaring that the organization never authorized him to represent Ukrainian chess. The federation characterized the move as an attempt at a hostile takeover and formally appealed to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) to evaluate Podolyak’s actions and consider launching a criminal proceeding regarding national interest betrayal.
The federation, led by former presidential strategic adviser Oleksandr Kamyshin, formally asked President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Budanov, Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky, and Sports Minister Matvey Bidny to take the situation under control.
FSU leadership also expressed concern that the transition of power at FIDE is merely cosmetic. Vladimir Kovalchuk, the first vice-president of the FSU, alleged that Arkady Dvorkovich — the outgoing Russian FIDE president barred from seeking a third term due to European Union sanctions — orchestrated support for Turlov behind the scenes at the congress. Arkady Dvorkovich had previously planned to run for a third term as recently as June, before EU sanctions forced his departure in July.
According to Champion, Vladimir Kovalchuk said, At the congress, he was the very one who persuaded delegates to vote for Turlov. Therefore, this is just a storefront.
Following Turlov’s election, former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich publicly supported him and promised to provide “informal” assistance.
Financial Commitments and the Future of Russian Participation
Turlov’s campaign differentiated itself from rival tickets by promising immediate financial injections rather than relying solely on future commercial growth.
Meanwhile, officials in Moscow reacted to the change in leadership with public optimism regarding the eventual reinstatement of Russian athletes. Dmitry Peskov, press secretary for the Russian president and head of the Russian Chess Federation’s board of trustees, congratulated Turlov and welcomed Pavel Kolobkov into the FIDE vice-presidential ranks. Peskov voiced confidence that methodical engagement with the new FIDE administration will eventually secure the return of Russian national teams to international competition.
Turlov stated that he will handle the issue of Russia’s suspension from chess events in full accordance with international law.