Russian official Kirsan Ilyumzhinov will run for FIDE presidency again. According to Sport24.az, he stated in an interview with "Sport-Express":
"Today, I announce my participation in the presidential election of the International Chess Federation, which will be held in Uzbekistan in September 2026. I made this decision because FIDE needs unity, strong leadership, and a clear vision for the future. For me, FIDE is not just an international organization, it's my life's work".
Note that Ilyumzhinov led FIDE from 1995 to 2018.