Kasparov leaves Russia

[EdLee]

(No intention to discuss politics here. Just FYI. ) Kasparov leaves Russia

Also, something's fishy about: "In recent years Kasparov, who famously defeated IBM's Deep Blue supercomputer in a series of chess matches in 1996, ..."

[skydyr]

I think there were several matches, and he won the first set but lost the second a year or two later.

[EdLee]

skydyr, thanks. I incorrectly thought the first series was against Deep Thought .

I was thinking about the re-match in 1997: Deep Blue versus Kasparov

[Phoenix]

Yeah, he won the first match in 1996. There was a rematch in 1997 and Deep Blue won that one.

[John Fairbairn]

According to www.chessvibes.com Kasparov never said he was leaving Russia and issued a statement to correct the misinterpretation of his off-the-cuff reply to a press conference question.

[EdLee]

John, thanks. Here's the chessvibes article .

[Joaz Banbeck]

For those who don't want to follow the link, here is Kasparov's clarifying statement after his first statement was misunderstood:

One simple question at a Geneva press conference has set off a firestorm of conjecture about my not returning Russia, so I want to set the story straight myself! Russia is and will always be my country. I am still traveling on a Russian passport, and though I was born in the USSR, and have spent most of my adult life traveling constantly, Russia is my home even when I am not able to be there. I refuse to allow Putin and his gang define Russia. They are a temporary disease that the Russian immune system will soon fight off.

I am doing everything I can to help win that fight. Before I retired from chess I represented Russia fighting battles on the chessboard around the world. I have spent years marching in the streets against Putin, speaking at rallies, and facing the police. Today I am still representing Russia and fighting harder than ever in America and Europe to bring international sanctions against the criminals and thugs in the Kremlin. I have had hundreds of meetings and appearances to promote such legislation, and the US has adopted the Magnitsky Act and Europe is increasingly open to doing the same. Such laws attack Putin's power at its foundation: the loyalty of his gang that is based on the protection he provides so they can enjoy their stolen riches abroad. Putin is at the center of the web, but the fight for human rights is a global one and it is critical to both assist and to seek assistance from allies abroad.

Meanwhile, Putin is cracking down harder than ever and is showing he is willing to create a new generation of political prisoners unseen since the days of Stalin. I have already been "invited" to speak to prosecutors and such invitations have a way, at a minimum, of limiting ones freedom of movement. Adding another victim to the regime's list will not do much good. I will not casually put myself at the mercy of the investigative office of Alexander Bastrykin, who deserves to be the top Russian official on the Magnitsky List himself!

Please, let no one doubt my commitment to the cause of a free and strong Russia, or doubt for one moment that I am working constantly to achieve that goal. I have dedicated my life to my human rights activities and my education programs and it is impossible to imagine I would be allowed to continue this work inside Russia today. Many of my friends in the opposition are risking their lives and their security every day and they deserve the full attention and protection of the global community and bringing this support is part of my efforts. I am present; I am in touch on a daily basis with what is happening with the opposition, and I will do whatever I can to support my colleagues and my compatriots until Putin and his cronies are gone for good.

[PaperTiger]

According to http://www.chessvibes.com Kasparov never said he was leaving Russia and issued a statement to correct the misinterpretation of his off-the-cuff reply to a press conference question.

This is, at best, misleading. Reading both his original comment and his elaborated comment, he is in self-imposed exile until he feels it is safe to return. He has, at least "temporarily", physically left Russia, but he still considers himself Russian and fights against Putin and his administration abroad.

[Unusedname]

Strange how much this is influencing me to read News about Russia.

A celebrity of a game I haven't played since elementary school.

The power of being famous!

[Bantari]

Strange how much this is influencing me to read News about Russia.

A celebrity of a game I haven't played since elementary school.

The power of being famous!

Hey, it beats watching Kardashians... or so I hear.