Russia has arrested Garry Kasparov and accused him of foreign agent and terrorist charges. The city court in Syktyvkar, the largest city in the northwest region of Russia’s Komi Republic, announced that it had arrested the grandmaster in absentia along with former Russian parliament deputy Gennady Gudkov, Ivan Tyutrin co-founder of the Free Russia Forum, designated as an ‘undesirable organization’ in the country as well as former environmental activist Yevgenia Chirikova. They were all charged with creating a terrorist society, according to the court’s press service.
Since all were charged in absentia, none were physically held in pre-trial detention.
“The court has chosen a measure of restraint for Garry Kasparov, Gennady Gudkov, Yevgenia Chirikova, and Ivan Tyutrin, accused of establishing and leading a terrorist society, financing terrorist activity, and publicly justifying it,” the court said according to TASS backed by the Kremlin. “The court has accepted the investigating authorities’ proposals to appoint pre-trial detention for Kasparov, Gudkov, Chirikova, and Tyutrin.”
Kasparov responded to the court’s bizarre arrest statement in an April 24 post, distributed on his once-active Twitter. “Being in absentia is undoubtedly the best way I’ve ever been arrested,” he said.
“Nice company too. I’m sure we’re all just as honored that Putin’s terrorist state is spending time on this instead of persecution and murder.” Kasparov has found himself targeted by Russian President Vladimir Putin after expressing his opposition to the country’s leader.
