The International Chess Federation, FIDE, commented on the arrest of Smbat Lputian, vice president of the Chess Federation, head of the Chair of Chess and Sports at the Pedagogical University, and director of the “Chess” Research Institute. Human rights defender Ruben Melikyan reported this on his Facebook page, citing the statement.
“We would like to note separately that the work of the Chess Research Center has long been of major importance for the development of chess science and for FIDE’s educational programs. This is particularly important given that the ‘Chess in Schools’ program is one of FIDE’s priority areas of activity this year,” the statement says.
Within a criminal case investigated by the Anti-Corruption Committee, Pedagogical University Vice-Rector Mariam Ispiryan, her son, and Smbat Lputian were detained.
It later became known that he had been released. Law enforcement bodies brought charges against him, while imposing a preventive measure banning him from leaving the country.
