Letters Make Words

After dismissing the letter of FIDE treasurer Adrian M. Siegel – regarding the impending closure of FIDE’s Swiss bank UBS account – as a “fake news”, FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov put out – through his London lawyer Nigel Kuschner from W Legal boutique law firm – a tough statement warning about further spreading of news that he regards as falsehoods damaging his reputation. The original statement was published both in Russian and English language on his own website:

However, as reported by Grandmaster Kevin Spraggett on his blog, FIDE treasurer Mr. Siegel, through a letter sent to all federations, denied any wrong doing, insisting all he addressed is hardly anything but unfounded. For furter details and updates, visit spraggettonchess.com.

The Opened Letter

• Илюмжинов: счета ФИДЕ в UBS никто не закрывал | Ilyumzhinov: no one has closed FIDE’s Swiss bank UBS account, BBC Russian Service, February 14, 2018

FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov vehemently denied the reported fact that FIDE’s Swiss bank UBS account would have been closed due to him still being listed in the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s blacklist. The news was spread yesterday by treasurer Adrian M. Siegel through an open letter published on FIDE’s website. Ilyumzhinov appointed London lawyer Nigel Kuschner from W Legal boutique law firm to speak and act on his behalf: “Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov denies the outrageous and false accusations brought against him, and he doesn’t know anything about the fact that FIDE’s bank account were frozen by UBS”, W Legal said in a statement to the BBC Russian Service. UBS bank, on the other hand, refused to share any information on matters related to FIDE’s account.

FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov. Photo: AFP.