Vladimir Fedoseev, who participated in the Vugar Gashimov Memorial held in Khankendi a few days ago and was among the prize winners of the tournament, has been stripped of all sports titles in Russia. Sport24.az reports with reference to idman.biz that the Russian Ministry of Sports has canceled Fedoseev's titles of Master of Sports of the country and Russian Grandmaster.
It should be noted that Fedoseev, who was considered one of the strongest young chess players in the country in 2023, started playing under the flag of Slovenia. He previously openly criticized the war in Ukraine, and before FIDE sanctions, refused to play in international tournaments with Russian symbols and asked for the Russian Chess Federation flag to be removed from his table.
Alexander Tkachev, Executive Director of the Russian Chess Federation, supported the decision of the Ministry of Sports, saying:
"If you make open statements that completely discredit the country, what's the point of having high sports titles? You simply don't deserve it."
It should also be reminded that Fedoseev previously collaborated with the leading Azerbaijani chess player Shahriyar Mammadyarov. In the mid-2010s, he was part of the grandmaster's coaching staff and worked as a second. He also performed this function at the Vugar Gashimov Memorial held in Shamkir in 2018.
Recently, from December 8 to 12, Vladimir Fedoseev participated in the Vugar Gashimov Memorial in rapid and blitz held in Khankendi. The Slovenian grandmaster shared 1st-2nd place with Russian Yan Nepomniachtchi in the tournament, but took second place according to additional indicators.
It should be noted that Vladimir Fedoseev is the European champion among chess players under 18 (2013), as well as the bronze medalist of the European and world championships among chess players under 20 (2014).