From the heart of LONDON — The Russian financial watchdog, Rosfinmonitoring, has recently made a significant move. It has included Garry Kasparov, the ex-world chess champion and a well-known critic of the Kremlin, in its list of “terrorists and extremists,” as reported by the RIA state news agency on Wednesday.
This inclusion imposes restrictions on the banking activities of the individuals named in the list. It necessitates them to obtain approval each time they wish to access their bank accounts, thereby limiting their financial freedom.
Kasparov, now 60 years old, took the decision to leave Russia in 2014 due to the looming threat of persecution. His media office, when contacted for a comment on this development, did not provide an immediate response.
In a similar vein, the Russian justice ministry had earlier added Kasparov and Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oil magnate, to its “foreign agents” list in 2022. This move subjected them to a cumbersome bureaucracy, including the requirement of financial reporting.
Agree. Kasparov’s inclusion on the list further highlights the oppressive tactics used by the Russian government to silence dissent.
Disagree. It’s unjust to label Kasparov as a terrorist or extremist simply for speaking out against the government.
Disagree. Kasparov’s opposition to the government does not make him a terrorist or extremist, labeling him as such is unjust.