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| ADDRESS TO FIDE, ECU, ACP, ALL WORLD NATIONAL CHESS FEDERATIONS, ALL COLLEAGUES AND CHESS FRIENDS By the International Grandmasters Ana Matnadze and Lela Javakhishvili We would like to share our deep concern regarding the situation in Georgian Chess Federation, the conduct of the 2004 Women’s World Chess Championship and, in particular, immoral and unjust behavior of Mr.Zurab Azmaiparashvili, the Vice President of FIDE. As you know, the Women’s World Chess Championship was supposed to be held in Batumi, the capital of Georgia’s Autonomous Republic of Ajaria. Due to the political tensions in the region, the Georgian government could not provide security guarantees for the participants of the competition. Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Sports and Culture have both made official statements regarding this fact. By the time when Mr.Azmaiparashvili invited the president of FIDE Kirsan Ilyumzhinov to Ajaria to sign the contract with Mr.Abashidze (the head of Georgia's Autonomous Republic of Ajaria, who governed the region in an increasingly dictatorial manner) regarding World Championship in Batumi, Mr.Abashidze had bascially declared full disobedience to the central government. He blocked all of the main roads, banning Georgian government officials from entering the region. He also violently dispersed peaceful demonstrations in Ajaria. For this very reason, the Georgian government could not guarantee security for the participants of the Championship. President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili during his meeting with Mr.Ilyumzhinov in Tbilisi, suggested to move the World Championship instead to the country’s capital Tbilisi. President Saakashvili guaranteed provision of all security guarantees, as well as the necessary sum of 700,000 USD. However, this offer was refused. Instead the championship was moved to Elista, the capital of Kalmykia. Later FIDE board members informed the public from Batumi that the winners of the World Championship would receive a special prize named after Aslan Abashidze. This decision, which we protested, came at the time when Mr.Abashidze’s security forces blew up key bridges isolating Ajaria from the rest of Georgia and brutally dispersed a peaceful rally of students and teachers. Mr.Azmaiparashvili returned to Tbilisi after the mass demonstrations in Batumi forced Aslan Abashidze to resign and flee Georgia. At the time when the entire Georgia was celebrating the bloodless revolution and liberation of Ajaria from Aslan Abashidze’s regime, Mr.Azmaiparashvili enthusiastically told the world that in addition to the Aslan Abashidze’s prize, the official name of the championship itself would be “Aslan Abashidze’s Gift to the World Chess.” We protested these decisions. Azmaiparashvili responded with usual for him aggressiveness towards an opinion different from his own. He treated us in a hostile and intimidating manner, using inappropriate and vulgar language and bringing to tears our mothers who were also present at the meeting. Mr.Azmaiparashvili also pressured us into refusing to participate in the championship, hence forcing us to give up our right to the competition which we gained absolutely independently from both Mr.Azmaiparashvili and Mr.Abashidze. Participation in the World Championship was extremely important to us, but because we believed we could not be protected against Mr.Azmaiparashvili’s aggressive behavior in Elista, we decided to refuse to take part in the championship. We changed our minds only after Nana Alexandria, a famous Grandmaster who has always served as a great example to us, asked us to reconsider our decision and Georgia’s Ministry of Sports and Culture and Board members of the Georgia’s Chess Federation decided that 5-time World Champion Nona Gaprindashvili would bare personal responsibility for our protection from Mr.Azmaiparashvili’s aggression. Unfortunately the arrangement did not work. In Elista, Zurab Azmaiparashvili and his wife Marina Milorava continued to put psychological pressure on us. Upon our arrival, we had problems with accommodation and would have had to spend the night in the street if it were not for the kindness of our Georgian friends and colleagues. In Elista, Azmaiparashvili's wife Marina Milorava was in charge of the logistical support. Remarkably, Mrs.Milorava serves as the Vice President of Tbilisi Chess Federation. Due to the recommendation of her husband Zurab Azmaiparashvili she is also the Secretary General of the Black Sea Chess Association and is FIDE International Organizer. We believe that all Chess Federations around the world must be informed about the above-mentioned facts. It is our strong belief that the Chess World both in Georgia and across Europe would be much better off without involvement of an aggressive and biased person like Mr.Azmaiparashvili. We believe that a man who abuses his position and attempts to influence negatively chess players and their careers should not be part of the management and decision making process at either National federation level, or especially at FIDE. This is why we call for all Chess Federations and professional chess associations around the world to support our cause, to share our slogan “FIDE WITHOUT AZMAIPARASHVILI!” and to comment on this letter. International Grandmasters Ana Matnadze Lela Javakhishvili |
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