Garry Kasparov is now Croatian

Checkmite

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Checkmite
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Kasparov, who is the greatest chess player of all time (although a certain young upstart may change that in the foreseeable future) has applied for and attained Croatian citizenship, prompted he says by the increased difficulty of living and operating in Russia as an anti-Putin activist. Kasparov has been arrested twice by Russian authorities for participating in anti-Putin rallies, once in 2007 and again in 2012.
 
catsmate1 said:
I thought this was the greatest chess player ever.
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It may have been; except it only won a single tournament and then afterwards was disassembled (for some odd reason). A consistent record is certainly part of what makes a great chess player great.
 
Checkmite said:
Kasparov, who is the greatest chess player of all time (although a certain young upstart may change that in the foreseeable future) has applied for and attained Croatian citizenship, prompted he says by the increased difficulty of living and operating in Russia as an anti-Putin activist. Kasparov has been arrested twice by Russian authorities for participating in anti-Putin rallies, once in 2007 and again in 2012.
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When the going gets tough, the tough run away and hide on the Dalmatian coast. Garry, will you be renting a sack when you get there? :mad:
 
Cleon said:
That's easy to say when you're not the one facing the gulag.
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If one is looking to impress people, doing the Brave Sir Robin isn't how to do it. A whole lot of serious anti establishment activists didn't run, they fought and they ended up in the gulag ... and won massive support.

Question: were you alive during the Cold War?
 
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Darth Rotor said:
If one is looking to impress people, doing the Brave Sir Robin isn't how to do it. A whole lot of serious anti establishment activists didn't run, they fought and they ended up in the gulag ... and won massive support.
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Still others went in and were never heard from again. I don't blame Kasparov for having an exit plan any more than I blame gays in Uganda for taking Scotland up on their offer of asylum. I'm not them, I'm not facing what they face.

Question: were you alive during the Cold War?
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Grew up in it. Relevance?
 
Cleon said:
Grew up in it. Relevance?
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As did I. The dissidents in the Soviet Union who stayed and fought made a difference. Yes, it sucked. So too did it suck for a lot of folks in South Africa who stuck it out and didn't run away when things go tough.

Kasparov: rose to the top of his profession under the old system, and became a celebrity. He believed he could make a difference in a different domain from his expertise, in political life. Good effort on the old college try.
Seems he didn't have what it takes to succeed in that arena.
(Skills in chess like lateral thinking and strategy seem to me to cross over a lot in that domain).

So, he has chosen not to fight the good fight, he is instead, like a lot of celebrities, giving up.
A public retreat.
The millions with whom he has common cause don't have his easy way out. They are stuck with the fight, as it is.

"When the going gets tough ... "
 
Kasparov was also alive during the Cold War.

He sees things differently from you.

He's already been beaten by the police once for his trouble. He's getting old. I don't blame him at all for what he's done. It's not like he's going to stop his activities in Russia after all; the point of his requesting citizenship with a different country - as the article pointed out - is a certain measure of protection as he continues his anti-Putin activism. As a Croatian citizen in Russia, he will enjoy consular services during any potential arrest or incarceration. Likewise, Russia cannot stifle him by revoking his passport and travel rights.

As well, there's also the matter of his likely candidacy for FIDE president this year; he does not wish to represent Russia as such. Now he will instead represent Croatia should he win.
 
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Darth Rotor said:
As did I. The dissidents in the Soviet Union who stayed and fought made a difference. Yes, it sucked. So too did it suck for a lot of folks in South Africa who stuck it out and didn't run away when things go tough.

Kasparov: rose to the top of his profession under the old system, and became a celebrity. He believed he could make a difference in a different domain from his expertise, in political life. Good effort on the old college try.
Seems he didn't have what it takes to succeed in that arena.
(Skills in chess like lateral thinking and strategy seem to me to cross over a lot in that domain).

So, he has chosen not to fight the good fight, he is instead, like a lot of celebrities, giving up.
A public retreat.
The millions with whom he has common cause don't have his easy way out. They are stuck with the fight, as it is.

"When the going gets tough ... "
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As far as I can tell from the article, there is no suggestion that he has permanently left Russia. In fact, it seems that he is continuing to do political work in Russia.
 
angrysoba said:
As far as I can tell from the article, there is no suggestion that he has permanently left Russia. In fact, it seems that he is continuing to do political work in Russia.
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OK, thanks for that.
Checkmite said:
he does not wish to represent Russia as such. Now he will instead represent Croatia should he win.
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Ah, so he is working on that politics thing. Looks like the strat crossover is working.

Thanks.
 
Just a side note. There has been a minor change or two in that part of the world and I am pretty sure Russia will know he is there - actually, may already be getting up a welcome- in party for him..........
 
Checkmite said:
He's already been beaten by the police once for his trouble. He's getting old. I don't blame him at all for what he's done. It's not like he's going to stop his activities in Russia after all; the point of his requesting citizenship with a different country - as the article pointed out - is a certain measure of protection as he continues his anti-Putin activism. As a Croatian citizen in Russia, he will enjoy consular services during any potential arrest or incarceration. Likewise, Russia cannot stifle him by revoking his passport and travel rights.
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And, FWIW, he'll be an EU citizen. He'll likely also enjoy diplomatic support from the EU or from other EU countries should Russia be nasty to him. And he'll be able to travel and settle wherever he wants within the Schengen area.
 
He's got a real shot at being the strongest player in Croatia.

I guess his first move was Gary to Croatia 4 (eva!).
 
Darth Rotor said:
So, he has chosen not to fight the good fight, he is instead, like a lot of celebrities, giving up.
A public retreat.
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Uh, he's been extremely involved in politics going against the Putin regime and put himself forward as a candidate. He fought the good fight for many, many years.

And: "Celebrity"? I know of almost no celebrity that has been as seriously politically involved and in real danger and been arrested as him. Hell, I don't know of any Russians at all that have been, except Pussy Riot, whose members never ran for office. Maybe you can link me to some other antis?

And if you could, please google Kasparov's efforts (and impact) in Russia without the "oh celebrity!" in your mind. If you can manage that, then you might see he actually has been one of the more agitating-against-Putin humans. So maybe sure, he "gave up", recognizing his country is beyond his repair or political influence. This doesn't have much to do with "celebrity".

Basically, you're being way too dismissive of his political efforts simply because he's more well-known for another aspect of his life. Kind of like, coincidentally, Vitali Klitschko. I guess since he was just a famous celebrity World Heavyweight champ, you will now dismiss him as a current main opposition leader in Ukraine?
 
Kasparov is a vital player in the struggle and his gambit may pay off - he is probably the only one who realizes the true value of the clergy; after all, they can move diagonally.
 
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Darth Rotor said:
As did I. The dissidents in the Soviet Union who stayed and fought made a difference.
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What on earth makes you think they had a choice to leave? Do you think a Soviet citizen could just go to a travel agent and book a flight to Paris?
 
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