World chess champion Garry Kasparov, who left Russia a decade ago, may be prosecuted in Russia on charges of violating the law on “foreign agents”.
This was reported on Sunday by the Russian state news agency TASS.
Russian law enforcement officials, the agency reported, said “there are all grounds” to bring charges against Kasparov, without giving any details. According to unnamed officials, Kasparov could face up to two years in prison or a fine if a case is filed.
Kasparov, co-founder of the Free Russia Forum, was placed on a register of so-called “foreign agents” shortly after Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which includes dozens of individuals who criticize Putin.
Kasparov has repeatedly stated that the Russian opposition is to create an alternative to Putin’s Russia.
“It is possible to do this only abroad and only if Ukraine wins the war”, he said in October in Tallinn, at the 5th Anti-War Conference organized by the Free Russia Forum.
Meanwhile, Radio Liberty reports that the Russian Ministry of Justice has added links to the social media accounts of people who have not been declared foreign agents to the register of “foreign agents”.
The order that the ministry should add to the register links to websites and social media accounts associated with individuals, organizations or media outlets recognized as foreign agents by the Russian authorities was signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on May 18.
