Jan Henric Buettner sent an Open Letter and Cease and Desist Legal Notice to the FIDE Council and officers, alleging that FIDE resources and personnel have been used to support the presidential campaign of Timur Turlov. Buettner cited what he described as active involvement by FIDE employees in campaign-related activities in Cape Town, Bucharest and Addis Ababa, as well as planned events in Costa Rica, Aruba, Panama and New York City. He called on FIDE to immediately instruct its personnel to stop providing campaign support in their official capacity or through institutional resources and demanded confirmation of FIDE’s strict neutrality within seven days.
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Dear Members of the FIDE Council,
Dear FIDE Officers and Employees,
It is with considerable reluctance that I write this letter. Throughout this campaign I have sought to conduct myself with respect towards my fellow candidates and towards FIDE as an institution. However, the integrity of the electoral process is paramount, and I believe I have a duty to raise concerns whenever the neutrality of the Federation appears to be at risk.
I am writing in my capacity as a candidate for the office of President of FIDE to place the Federation and all individuals acting on its behalf on formal notice regarding what appears to be the ongoing use of FIDE personnel, resources and financial assets to support the presidential campaign of Mr. Timur Turlov.
The purpose of this letter is not to accuse any individual of wrongdoing without due process, but rather to demand that any conduct which compromises, or appears to compromise, the neutrality of FIDE during an election immediately cease.
Over the course of this election campaign, my team has observed and received numerous credible reports suggesting that FIDE employees are actively participating in campaign activities benefiting one particular candidate.
Among those whose activities have raised particular concern are individually identifiable certain FIDE employees who appear to be accompanying, facilitating or otherwise supporting Mr. Turlov during campaign-related activities in multiple jurisdictions, and/or who are making official FIDE-phone calls to arrange for Mr. Turlov to meet delegates in certain places.
Our concern extends beyond the activities of individual employees. It also appears that FIDE funds may be used to finance salaries, international travel, accommodation and related expenses associated with these activities.
Furthermore, we have observed a recurring pattern whereby delegates are invited to events whose practical effect is to provide Mr. Turlov with privileged access to voting federations under circumstances that appear to be financed, directly or indirectly, through FIDE-supported structures.
Examples include events held in, among other places:
Cape Town;
Bucharest;
Addis Ababa;and, according to information available to us, similar arrangements are anticipated in:
Costa Rica;
Aruba;
Panama; and
New York City.(Evidence, naming the specific events dates, individuals involved, public photos, schedules, travel records, witness statements, and official announcements will be provided upon request)
If it is suggested that these activities are merely sponsorship initiatives funded by Mr. Turlov personally or by his companies, rather than by FIDE, that distinction does not resolve the concern where FIDE personnel or institutional resources are simultaneously deployed in support of those events.
Indeed, our own experience demonstrates the unequal treatment currently being afforded to candidates. As one example, our campaign offered to increase the prize fund of the Caribbean Chess Cup 2026 in Aruba from USD 8,000 to USD 18,000 in order to enable our participation on equal terms. That proposal was declined.
The resulting effect is that one candidate enjoys repeated opportunities to engage delegates through events supported by FIDE personnel and infrastructure, while competing candidates are denied equivalent access.
Whether intentional or not, such circumstances create a serious appearance that the institutional neutrality required of an international sports federation is being compromised.
Accordingly, I hereby formally request that FIDE immediately:
Instruct all FIDE officers, employees and consultants to refrain from participating in, facilitating or promoting the campaign of any presidential candidate while acting in their official capacities.
Ensure that no FIDE funds, personnel, travel budgets, accommodation budgets or administrative resources are used, directly or indirectly, to support the campaign of any candidate.
Require any FIDE employee who wishes to engage in campaign activities to do so exclusively in a private capacity, entirely outside working hours, without use of FIDE resources, and with complete transparency regarding any conflicts of interest.
Confirm publicly that FIDE will administer the remainder of the election process with strict institutional neutrality and equal treatment of all candidates.This letter should be regarded as a formal cease and desist notice concerning any continued use of FIDE resources or personnel in support of any presidential campaign.
Should such activities continue, I reserve all rights available under the FIDE Charter, the FIDE Electoral Rules, the FIDE Code of Ethics, and any other applicable legal or regulatory framework, including the right to seek appropriate review by the competent FIDE bodies and, where appropriate, by external authorities.
I wish to emphasise that this letter is not intended as a personal criticism of any employee. Rather, it is intended to protect the integrity of the current election, the reputation of FIDE, and the confidence of all 200-plus member federations that this election will be conducted fairly, transparently and on equal terms.
Every candidate deserves the same opportunities.
Every federation deserves confidence that its governing body remains politically neutral.
I respectfully request written confirmation within seven (7) days that the matters raised in this letter have been reviewed and that appropriate steps have been taken to ensure FIDE’s institutional neutrality throughout the remainder of the election.
Yours sincerely,
Jan Henric Buettner
Candidate for President
International Chess Federation (FIDE)