Investigators are demanding the arrest of former world chess champion Garry Kasparov in absentia. On December 22, the Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow registered a petition for preliminary arrest.
Kasparov was charged in absentia under part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code of Russia (public calls for terrorism, public justification of terrorism or its propaganda made using mass media, electronic or information and telecommunication networks). The maximum penalty under this article is seven years in prison.
Investigators have not previously announced a criminal case against Kasparov.
Garry Kasparov is the 13th world chess champion. In 2005, he announced his retirement from chess. In 2012, he was elected a member of the coordinating council of the Russian opposition. The following year, Kasparov announced his departure from Russia.
