Potential FIDE tournament problem with US Treasury sanctions

Running Chess Tournaments
1

On 11-25-2015 The US Treasury Department issued new sanctions against Syria, and among others the President of FIDE. From the Treasury press release – “Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was designated today for materially assisting and acting for or on behalf of the Government of Syria,. . .”
treasury.gov/press-center/p … l0287.aspx

Note the language in the first paragraph – " and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. "

Are we engaging in a transaction with FIDE President Ilyumzhinov if we hold a tournament that is FIDE rated? Back in the days before I retired from the practice of law, I had just enough experience with international law problems to know that this is not a question that should be answered by shooting from the hip, or by assuming that the law will be fair and sensible (a dangerous assumption in any context).

Unless I am mistaken, a violation of this kind of sanction is one of the things that got Bobby Fischer into trouble with the Federal government.

Does anyone know if a lawyer for the USCF is looking at this?
If not, they should be.

Michael Lilly
Portland, Oregon

2

Yes, we do have counsel looking into this situation.

3

Thanks Allen. In that case it is time for me to relax and shut up. :slight_smile:

4

Individual EB members are not to have any direct comment on the issue - and indeed we cannot have any more informed comment until we get the guidance we have sought. Thanks for understanding.