---
title: "Rosenstein rejects accusations of ties to Russia after FIDE election defeat and calls campaign 'one of the dirtiest in federation history'"
description: "Vadim Rosenstein, who lost to Timur Turlov in the FIDE presidential election in Samarkand, rejected accusations of ties to Russia and called the campaign one of the dirtiest in the federation's history."
date: 2026-10-30T07:28:55.399Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/rosenstein-rejects-russia-ties-accusations-fide-election
tags: [fide, chess, vadim-rozenshtein, timur-turlov, elections, russia, ukraine, wr-chess]
author: "Dmitriy Shatolov"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Rosenstein rejects accusations of ties to Russia after FIDE election defeat and calls campaign 'one of the dirtiest in federation history'

![Vadim Rosenstein speaking against the backdrop of the FIDE logo during the election campaign](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/30/rozenshteyn-otverg-obvineniya-v-svyazyah-s-rossiey-posle-vyborov-fide/rozenshteyn-otverg-obvineniya-v-svyazyah-s-rossiey-posle-vyborov-fide-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Timur Turlov defeated Vadim Rosenstein in the second round of the FIDE presidential election in Samarkand with a score of 110:85
- Rosenstein completely rejected accusations of sanctions evasion, supplies of military products, and ties to Russia
- The entrepreneur stated that WR Group operates under a ban on doing business with Russia and serves over 70 markets
- The Chess Federation of Ukraine called Mykhailo Podolyak joining Turlov's team an act of raiding
- Rosenstein called the electoral campaign one of the dirtiest in FIDE history

On September 26, the elections for the president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) concluded in Samarkand. In the second round, Timur Turlov defeated German entrepreneur and founder of WR Chess Vadim Rosenstein, securing 110 votes to 85. In a comment to RBC-Ukraine, the defeated candidate rejected all accusations of ties to Russia directed at him during the election campaign, stating that the federation's new leadership preserved the influence of Arkady Dvorkovich's team. Rosenstein, who was born in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine and holds German citizenship, called the past campaign 'one of the dirtiest in FIDE history.'

### Pressure and threats during the campaign

According to Rosenstein, throughout the entire election cycle, he faced pressure: he was 'blackmailed and threatened with Ukrainian sanctions' to force him to withdraw his candidacy. The entrepreneur emphasized that he is not a politician and views his participation strictly through the prism of popularizing chess. In the summer and autumn of 2026, he claimed, a number of Ukrainian media outlets published a series of articles by a single author accusing him, while no one approached him for his position regarding these accusations before publication. Rosenstein also reported that shortly thereafter, similar claims with identical figures appeared in paid publications of English-language outlets.

### Accusations of sanctions evasion and supplies

Rosenstein completely rejects accusations of circumventing sanctions and supplying military-use products. He points out that none of the publications named a single specific agreement, product, or sanctions list item. The website, cable certificates, and company in Kyrgyzstan mentioned in the materials belong, he says, to structures in which he is neither a participant nor an official. He characterizes the deal to import Italian shoes as an independent commercial operation by a Russian company, which WR Group's German structures have nothing to do with. Rosenstein calls the story about alleged supplies to 'NOVATEK' an 'absolute fabrication,' noting that he never worked directly with that company. All orders by the group's companies, according to his data, came from European partners and pertained to events in 2019–2021 when current legislation allowed such activities; in 2021, such supplies were halted.

### WR Group's policy regarding Russia

Rosenstein emphasizes that WR Group maintains a ban on doing business with Russia: the group's companies do not enter into contracts with Russian counterparties, and previously signed agreements were executed in full compliance with EU legislation. Today, WR Group operates in more than 70 markets worldwide. The entrepreneur also denies any connection to the Russian company 'VR Rus', stating that he does not participate in the management of this legal entity—which is currently handled by an external manager—and receives no dividends from it. Formally exiting the shareholder structure is currently impossible, he says, without the permission of the Russian government commission. He noted that he had previously disclosed this information himself in an interview with Deutsche Welle.

### Turlov's team and the reaction of the Ukrainian side

Separately, Rosenstein drew attention to the inclusion in FIDE's new president Mykhailo Podolyak into Turlov's team after he accepted Turlov's offer in September to join his structure. The Chess Federation of Ukraine called this move raiding. Rosenstein also pointed out that the Russian Chess Federation did not vote in these elections because its FIDE membership is suspended. He stated that he publicly supported the immediate implementation of the Court of Arbitration for Sport's rulings regarding the Russian Chess Federation, and his candidacy was supported by the German Chess Federation. The entrepreneur called the label of 'Russian agent of influence' a lie backed by zero facts.

### Personal position and context

Rosenstein, born into a Jewish family in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine and holding German citizenship, expressed bewilderment that the harshest accusations against him come precisely from Ukraine, whereas Turlov, who according to him was born in Moscow and continues to do business in Russia, receives support despite Ukraine having imposed sanctions against him. Rosenstein links the attacks to a paid hit job executed by 'a certain well-known media figure,' who allegedly also undertook to lift sanctions against Turlov. Rosenstein emphasized that throughout the entire process, he is exclusively interested in popularizing chess and stated that the federation's new leadership has preserved the influence of Arkady Dvorkovich's team.

## Accounts differ

### Accusations of sanctions evasion and supplies of military-use products

- **Ukrainian and English-language media (via Rosenstein's words):** A series of materials was published accusing him of circumventing sanctions, supplying military-use products, connections with a company in Kyrgyzstan, an Italian shoe import deal, and supplies for 'NOVATEK' ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rozenshteyn-nazvav-nove-kerivnitstvo-fide-1793278920.html))
- **Vadim Rosenstein:** None of the publications named a specific agreement, product, or sanctions list item; the mentioned companies are unrelated to him; the shoe deal was an independent operation by a Russian company; the 'NOVATEK' story is a fabrication; all supplies pertained to 2019–2021 and complied with the legislation of that time ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rozenshteyn-nazvav-nove-kerivnitstvo-fide-1793278920.html))

*Where they agree:* Publications accusing Rosenstein were released in Ukrainian and English-language media; Rosenstein himself confirms the fact of their publication.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Розенштейн назвал новое руководство ФИДЕ "позором" и отрицает связи с Россией](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rozenshteyn-nazvav-nove-kerivnitstvo-fide-1793278920.html) - Primary source — Vadim Rosenstein's interview with RBC-Ukraine. All quotes, figures (110:85), dates (September 26, Samarkand), and statements regarding WR Group's policy are taken from this material. The accusatory part (Ukrainian media, English-language publications) is presented exclusively through Rosenstein's words, without direct verification from the primary publication sources.

## FAQ

### Who won the FIDE presidential election in September 2026?

In the second round of elections held on September 26 in Samarkand, Timur Turlov defeated Vadim Rosenstein with 110 votes to 85.

### What accusations were leveled against Rosenstein during the campaign?

According to Rosenstein himself, Ukrainian and English-language publications contained accusations of circumventing sanctions, supplying military-use goods, ties to the Russian company 'VR Rus', and holding the status of a 'Russian agent of influence'. Rosenstein rejects all these allegations, pointing to a lack of concrete evidence in the publications.

### What is WR Group's position regarding business with Russia?

Rosenstein states that WR Group enforces a ban on doing business with Russia: the group's companies do not enter into contracts with Russian counterparties, and previously signed agreements were fulfilled in accordance with EU legislation. WR Group operates in over 70 global markets.

### Why did the Chess Federation of Ukraine call Podolyak joining Turlov's team raiding?

Mykhailo Podolyak accepted new FIDE President Timur Turlov's offer to join his team in September 2026. The Chess Federation of Ukraine qualified this move as raiding. Specific grounds for this assessment are not disclosed in the provided source.

### Where was Vadim Rosenstein born and what is his citizenship?

Rosenstein was born in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine into a Jewish family and holds German citizenship.