Russia has issued an international arrest warrant against former world chess champion of Armenian origin Garry Kasparov. Garry Kasparov who took the name of his Armenian mother, Klara Kasparova, originally from Artsakh and settled in Baku where Garry was born in 1963, to a Jewish father.
Russian law enforcement agencies have issued an international arrest warrant for Garry Kasparov, previously arrested in absentia on charges of advocating terrorism and two violations of the rules relating to terrorist activities.“foreign agent”. This is what emerges from the file, consulted by the TASS agency.
“GK Kasparov was charged in absentia under Article 205.2, paragraph 2, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (promotion of terrorism on the Internet) and Article 330.1, paragraph 2 (violation of the rules on the activities of a foreign agent – two counts). » GK Kasparov was placed on the list of persons wanted at the federal and international levels by circular. “An international list of wanted persons has been established against him »précise le document.
On December 22, 2025, the Zamoskvoretsky District Court in Moscow ordered Kasparov’s pre-trial detention for two months. This period runs from his surrender to the Russian authorities (in the event of extradition or expulsion) or from his actual arrest on the territory of the Russian Federation.
Kasparov was initially charged under Article 205.2, paragraph 2, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (public advocacy of terrorism through information and telecommunications networks, including the Internet). This article provides for a prison sentence of five to seven years, accompanied by a ban on exercising certain functions or certain activities for a maximum period of five years. He was subsequently charged in absentia with two offenses under Article 330.1, paragraph 2, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (procedural violation). For activities falling within the jurisdiction of a foreign agent, Gary Kasparov is punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine.
The Russian Justice Ministry included him on the list of « agents étrangers » in May 2022, justifying it by “political activities”. Ukraine and the American Human Rights Foundation were cited as foreign sources. Russian courts have repeatedly prosecuted him for “violation of the law on foreign agents”. Gary Kasparov currently resides outside of Russia.
Krikor Amirzayan
