In a brave public act, David Navara explains in details what he went through after the baseless accusations of Kramnik. Navara describes the emotional torture by Kramnik’s allegations, the silence of FIDE, their posterior inadequate reaction and total disregard on basic FIDE ethical and moral values. Navara ends his letter with a demand of resignation of Arkady Dvorkovich as FIDE President.
Timeline of events
23.05.2025 Navara publishes an open letter about Kramnik’s actions
23.05.2025 Reactions to Navara’s open letter – Aronian, Polgar, etc
23.05.2025 Navara and Kramnik to meet at FIDE World Rapid and Blitz
24.05.2025 David Navara, “I firmly believe that Mr Dvorkovich should resign”
24.05.2025 Kramnik, “I am deeply disappointed Navara participates in unjust PR campaign against me”
24.05.2025 Kramnik rage-blocks Chessdom over a comment on David Navara’s case
24.05.2025 Live: David Navara at French Top 16
25.05.2025 Kramnik admits to allegations, FIDE has grounds to act
25.05.2025 Open call to action for FIDE
In a message on the social platform Twitter/X, Vladimir Kramnik has admitted to making allegations. Kramnik says,”You have confused me with your “notable player” Hikaru. I do not make “open unbased accusations” but “well argumented allegations” and ready to defend it.”
FIDE has rules about making allegations and have already acted on such. Russian Grandmaster and coach Evgeniy Solozhenkin accused Assaubayeva on several internet articles of cheating during the World Youth U14 Championship in Uruguay in September 2017. GM Evgeniy Solozhenkin was found to violate par. 2.2.11 of the FIDE Code of Ethics. GM Solozhenkin was suspended for making cheating allegations.
Assaubayeva’s family sued Solozhenkin for defamatory allegations made in public and in the media that offended Assaubayeva’s honor and dignity. The Moscow Appellate Court ordered Solozhenkin to apologize, disavow his allegations to the media, delete the defamatory articles, and pay a compensatory sum of 100 thousand rubles.
FIDE seems to have grounds to start a procedure in the Ethics and Disciplinary Commission against the allegations of Kramnik towards David Navara and a multitude of other players.
We express our full support to David Navara — Chessdom (@chessdom) May 23, 2025
The baseless accusations of Kramnik have to stop. He has to take responsibility for his actions, apologize to David Navara and to a long list of player for the harassment and emotional damage. https://t.co/SVMfN8if24