Freedom24 executive calls for stronger governance standards ahead of FIDE election

Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Freedom24 Chief Communications Officer Bulat Latypov has called for stronger governance, institutional continuity and clearer sponsorship frameworks ahead of the FIDE presidential election on 26 September. Latypov disclosed that Freedom24’s parent company, Freedom Holding Corp, is led by candidate Timur Turlov.

FIDE presidential vote

The 46th Chess Olympiad opened in Samarkand this week, while FIDE delegates are due to elect the organisation’s next president on 26 September.

Delegates from FIDE member federations will choose between the tickets of Jan Henric Buettner and Malcolm Pein, Wadim Rosenstein and Gordon Tang, and Timur Turlov and Viswanathan Anand. Each federation has one vote.

Latypov said the next leadership team would oversee an organisation that has changed significantly over the past decade, as federations have increasingly dealt with corporate sponsorship, government funding, broadcast rights and platform partnerships.

Federation capacity

Latypov said federations needed administrative capacity to maintain financial records, explain decision-making and distinguish between personal views of leaders and institutional positions.

He said that while FIDE’s one-federation, one-vote system provided political equality, member federations differed in operational resources. Some have full-time staff, legal advisers and data infrastructure, while others are run by volunteers without dedicated budgets.

Latypov cited Kazakhstan’s chess education programme, which he said includes more than 60,000 students and 1,500 schools.

European Chess Union statement

On 16 September, Zurab Azmaiparashvili, who was recently re-elected president of the European Chess Union, publicly said he personally supported Rosenstein’s candidacy.

Azmaiparashvili said his position was his personal view and not a decision by the ECU or its member federations. The following day, the ECU stated that it had made no institutional endorsement and remained neutral in its service to all 54 members.

Latypov said the clarification reflected the ECU’s code of conduct, adopted earlier this year and based on FIDE electoral principles, which is intended to support fair campaigning and prevent pressure on voters.

Continuity and sponsorship

Latypov said federations should be able to maintain relationships, systems and development priorities through changes in leadership. He said projects should be held by institutions rather than individuals, with partnerships documented, data accessible and development programmes based on measurable objectives.

He also called for sponsorship agreements to set out their purpose, duration, responsibilities and measurable outcomes. According to Latypov, such arrangements should provide sponsors with visibility and value while giving federations independence and predictability.