From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng (Original Message) Sent: 8/9/2005 12:58 AM
August, 8, 2005
Kasparov takes the first steps on a path leading to Russian revolution
The chess world champion started the campaign to hinder president Putin to remain on the third term.
If a chess - is the practice for mind as once has told Garry Kasparov, the Russian policy for him was not easier at all from the moment of his dramatic debut this year.
For the last five months he has been beaten on a head with a chess board, has been assaulted by militia, eggs have been thrown and ketchup has been poured over him, and also has been attacked verbally.
All this has taken place after, when in March he declared, that he was going to leave a sports chess in order to devote himself to political strike against president Putin.
42-year-ald Kasparov has not got used to failures. he has been the best player in a chess since 1985 when he became the youngest world champion.
Nevertheless he is far from being broken, on the contrary, he rushes to the hardest - and the riskiest - fight in all his life with all ardour and aggression which have made him the greatest chess player of present time.
" Our country has only one chance - it is if the regime will fall, - he has told the newspaper "Times". - If the government does not change, we will change the government ".
In contrast to the majority of Putin's opponents, he does not speak about taking part in the following parliamentary elections in 2007 or about to nominate for presidential elections in 2008.
He travels round Russia , openly calling to the peace revolution, similar to, that have shaken Georgia in 2003 and Ukraine last year.
He predicts, that as a starting signal will serve the attempt of the Kremlin to change the constitution in order to allow president Putin remain on the third term, instead of leaving a post of the president in 2008.
" Next year we expect political crisis which will define the future of the country, - he says. - The matter concerns mass protests ".
Such kind of conversations - rather provocative - unless seditious, - taking into account, that the Kremlin during last five years have tried to silence opposition.
In May oil magnate Michael Khodorkovski was sentenced to nine years of imprisonment. Many consider it as a penalty because he interfered in a politics.
Then a target became ex-prime minister Michael Kasianov. After he hinted at an opportunity of participation in presidential elections in 2008, against him was brought an action on accusation of corruption.
Meanwhile the worse, that Kasparov had to experience, it is an impact by a chess board on a head (the young activist made it in April) and the violent actions from the side of militia done to the walls of the court where in May was a trial of Khodorkovski.
" I hope, that if all goes rather badly, from the side of the West something greater will occure , than simply dissatisfied voices ", - speaks Kasparov.
On public the Russian authorities react to a chalange which is thrown down by Kasparov, with contempt, naming him as insignificant figure in the politics, attractive only in eyes of the West. Many political scientists agree with it, speaking, that the majority of Russians do not know about campaign and will not support him because of his Caucasian and Jewish origin. He was born in Azerbaijan , his mother - is Armenian, and father - Jew.
But at the same time authorities are ready for much, not to allow participation of enjoyable respect of celebrity in the political strike.
It was clearly revealed, when Kasparov in June went to the south of Russia to get support in Dagestan, Northern Ossetia, Stavropol and Rostov .
" Unlike my critics, I travel the Russian regions, - he says. - This is a single way to find out the situation in the country because the mass media are under the strict control of the Kremlin ".
In Dagestan local authorities have forbidden him meeting with refugees from the neighbour Chechen Republic and even have tried to prevent him to hand prizes at children's competition in chess.
In Northern Ossetia have been cancelled a meeting with inhabitants of Beslan in the cultural centre, after the authorities have urgently organized there display of animated film " Madagascar ". Then the eggs were thrown and tomato ketchup was poured over him in Vladikavkaz, capital of republic. Local authorities have accused him that he exploits with the last year's tragedy , capture of school in Beslan though the mothers of victims spoke, that wanted to meet him.
In the following destinations - in Stavropol and Rostov - the airports have refused to allow landing of his plane. Hotels in Stavropol have refused to occupy him, and in both places of the meeting with citizens passed in the street so in those places where their realization was planned, there were " technical problems ".
Kasparov considers, that local heads carried out orders of Dmitri Kozak representative of Putin in this region. " If they behave thus, it means, that they are afraid, that someone will talk to these people, - speaks Kasparov. - If people do not like my ideas everything is all right, but at least let me talk with them".
Kasparov for the first time got involved in a politics in 1990, and in the beginning of the last year was elected the chairman of committee " 2008: the Free choice ", the liberal group which task - is to provide the future elections be free and fair.
However true political awakening has come after the capture in Beslan, when the Kremlin declared the plan to cancel direct elections of regional governors.
This year he created his own, more challenging group under the name of " Incorporated civil front ". " It is an extreme measure because the situation is extreme, - he says. - the Government breaks the constitution of Russia and limits our rights to influence process of elections ".
Acquaintance to king
Was born - April, 13, 1963, Baku , Azerbaijan
November, 1985 - defeated Anatoly Karpov, becoming the youngest world champion in the age of 22
2000 - conceded a title of the world champion to the Russian grand master Vladimir Kramnik. Kept a rank of number one chess player in the world till 2005.
1996 - defeated supercomputer IBM Deep Blue, but the next year lost with the advanced version.
March, 2005 - left chess to devote time to the Committee - 2008 conducting campaign against the government of president Putin
He is told about:
" I am the grand master, but today a set of people are grand masters. I and Kasparov have the same title, but he is from another planet ". Jonathan Rouson, the chess champion of the Great Britain , July, 2005.
" The Future of the chess - is in hands of this young man ". Michael Botvinnik, the ex-world champion (when Kasparov was 11 years old).
" when Kasparov used to win, he felt like the god, but if he used to lose, nothing might console him in his despondency and fury ". Fred Beitskin, the American writer about a match between Kasparov and Karpov in 1990.
" Forget about the prize-winning money. On kitty - destiny of mankind, at least, in Harry Kasparova's head ". Moris Eshly, the only afro-American grand master about the ending of a match between Kasparov and Deep Blue-Kasparov in 1997.
He speaks:
" I have made everything in a chess, and even more. Now I am going to devote the intelligence and strategic thinking to the Russian politics ".
" I think, that the country goes in an incorrect direction, therefore it is necessary to help Russia , to help Russians to make the country prospering, fair and free ".
" I devote some amount of time to the Russian politics as each decent person does who resists to the dictator Putin ".
Jeremy Page, The Times, 08.08.05.
http://chechenpress.co.uk/english/news/2005/08/08/04.shtml
