How do liberated or newly independent nation-states come under FIDE’s supervisory

powers?

🧭 1. Nature of FIDE’s Authority (Article 1.1 & 1.2)

FIDE is a non-governmental, non-profit, and internationally recognized sports

federation, not a state-level governing body. It derives supervisory authority not from
international law but from its voluntary association of member national federations.

FIDE is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and acts as the supreme
body for chess — issuing rules, hosting competitions, and awarding titles. Its moral authority
is rooted in voluntary compliance, not legal compulsion.

🌍 2. Admission of National Federations (Article 2.1 – 2.3)

When a newly independent country emerges (e.g., after decolonization or liberation), its
chess community may form a national federation that:

 Claims principal authority over chess in that territory.

 Applies for FIDE membership by acknowledging the FIDE Statutes.
 Must be from a country or territory recognized by the IOC (International
Olympic Committee).

Once admitted, the federation becomes subject to FIDE regulations, including supervision
over competitions, titles, and ethics.

Example:
When South Sudan became independent in 2011, it formed the South Sudan Chess
Federation and was admitted to FIDE in 2016.

🔧 3. Supervisory Powers: How FIDE Exercises Control Over Federations

FIDE’s supervision is statutory and administrative:

A. Statutory Oversight (Article 2.4 – 2.5):

 Federations must submit reports, update records, pay fees, and follow FIDE’s
regulations.
 Failure can lead to temporary or permanent exclusion.

B. Democratic Oversight (Article 4.1):

  The General Assembly, where every national federation has one vote, is FIDE’s
highest body.
 All major decisions (e.g., elections, member suspension) are taken by vote,
ensuring equal participation of national federations.

C. Conflict Resolution & Ethical Oversight (Article 8.1 – 8.4):

 If disputes arise (e.g., internal conflict within a national federation), FIDE can
intervene through:
o Ethics Commission
o Electoral Commission
o Presidential Board
 FIDE may supervise elections or resolve leadership disputes (e.g., as seen
in Pakistan, Kenya, and Afghanistan).

D. Continental and Zonal Presidents (Articles 6 & 11):

 FIDE’s structure ensures regional supervision via Continental Associations (Asia,

Africa, etc.) and Zonal Presidents, enhancing localized administration.

⚖️4. Legal and Appeals Framework (Article 13)

 Any final decision by FIDE can be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
(CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
 National federations or individuals cannot appeal to national courts over chess-
related matters covered by FIDE statutes.

🛑 5. Limits of FIDE Power

Despite its supervisory role, FIDE cannot interfere in internal political matters of a
country or replace national legal systems. It observes neutrality in the internal affairs of
national federations (Article 1.2) unless FIDE statutes or the ethical code are violated or a
federation fails to comply.

In Summary:

Aspect FIDE Supervisory Mechanism

Admission of New States Only one federation per country; must be IOC member
Supervisory Control Through Statutes, Ethics Commission, Electoral Commission
Election Oversight FIDE supervises to ensure legitimacy
Dispute Resolution Appeals go to Ethics Commission or CAS
Obligation of Members Annual reports, adherence to rules, financial contributions
Suspension/Exclusion Possible for non-compliance or serious misconduct
A. ADMINISTRATIVE SUBJECTS / FIDE
Statutes (effective till March 1, 2020) /
FIDE Statutes (effective till March 1, 2020)
GENS UNA SUMUS
The moral strength of FIDE is manifested by the discipline of its members.
Statutes of the World Chess Federation - Fédération Internationale des
Echecs - FIDE, founded 20 July, 1924, Paris, France.
These statutes were approved by the General Assembly on 13 September
2016 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

01. Status, principles and aims of FIDE

1.1. The World Chess Federation or Fédération Internationale des Echecs,
(referred to in the ensuing text as FIDE for short), is a non-
governmental organisation founded on July 20, 1924 in Paris, France,
recognised by its members and the International Olympic Committee
as the international federation in the domain of chess, the supreme
body responsible for the sportof chess and its Championships. FIDE
has the sole rights to organise the World Chess Championships and
the Chess Olympiads. FIDE unites national chess federations
throughout the world and oversees all International competitions.
The seat of FIDE is in Lausanne, Switzerland. FIDE is an association
registered in the Commercial Register in accordance with the Swiss
Civil Code.
1.2. FIDE is concerned exclusively with chess activities. FIDE is
democratically established and bases itself on the principles of equal
rights of its members. FIDE is a non-profit making organisation. It
rejects discriminatory treatment for national, political, racial, social or
religious reasons or on account of gender. It observes strict neutrality
in the internal affairs of the national chess federations.
a. FIDE events (competitions, congresses, meetings) may
be hosted only by Federations where free access is
generally assured to representatives of all Federations.
b. The General Assembly may take exceptions for reasons
of state of war or severe violence between countries, only
on a three quarter majority vote.
1.3. Chess is one of the most ancient, intellectual and cultural games. It is
a combination of sport, of scientific thinking and of elements of art.
The purpose and aim of FIDE are the diffusion and development of
 chess among all nations of the world, as well as the raising of the level
of chess culture and knowledge on a sporting, scientific, creative,
educational and cultural basis. FIDE supports a close international
cooperation of the chess devotees in all fields of chess activity,
thereby also aiming to improve friendly harmony among all peoples of
the world.
The practice of the game of chess in all its ramifications is fully
recognised as sport by the International Olympic Committee at the
IOC session in Seoul, Korea in June 1999 and therefore any form of
practice of the game of chess and any decision thereon by FIDE or any
form of activity relating thereto either directly or indirectly falls within
the definition of sport. The interpretation of these statutes must be in
conformity with the Olympic Charter as envisaged by art 25 of the
Olympic Charter.
1.4. FIDE issues the rules of chess and the provisions pertaining to the
organisation of the World Chess Championships and all other FIDE
chess competitions. It awards the international chess titles. It decides
on the regulations for all FIDE competitions and determines the
conditions for the award of international titles.
FIDE competitions are in general open to players of both sexes. A
competition described as a women`s event is reserved for women
players but women players are entitled to compete in events
described as open events.
1.5 English and French are the official languages of FIDE. The official
language of FIDE for business and announcements shall be English
and all meetings, FIDE documents, rules and regulations will be in this
language.
English, French, Spanish and Russian are the official languages at the
Congress. Qualified interpreters shall translate into these languages.
Delegates may speak in their mother tongue if they ensure
interpretation into one of the official Congress languages by a
qualified interpreter.
1.6 The FIDE Motto is "Gens Una Sumus" (We are one family). The FIDE
seal is a white Knight intersected by five white latitudinal lines on a
black globe, with the word "FIDE" in black at the base of the Knight,
and the FIDE motto in black below the globe. The FIDE flag is the FIDE
Seal at the centre of a sky-blue background, on both sides of the flag,
measuring 100 x 150 cm. or in proportion thereto.

02. Membership
A - Member Federations
2.1 Members of FIDE are national chess federations which have principal authority over
. countries and which have been admitted to FIDE as member-federations if they ack
develop activities not contrary to those statutes. Only one federation of each count
addition FIDE can grant the status of provisional member to chess federations, in ac
For new members, the country of the federation (with the same boundaries) must b
member of the International Olympic Committee.
2.2 The admission of a national chess federation as a member is effected through an ap
. Questionnaire). This application is to be submitted to the Secretariat. The provis
upon by the Executive Board/Presidential Board. Final admittance as a member is p
Assembly after examination of the preconditions for admittance by the Executive B
application for admission must include all data, which will make evident that the sta
activities of the applicant are in conformity with the FIDE Statutes.
The application for admission shall be accompanied by the official questionnaire of
Assembly, completely filled out, together with a copy of the statutes of the federati
the authorities of the country, if the country's law so requires.
Decisions on the final admission of new federations shall be made before any other
elections. A new member can fully participate in all meetings of FIDE, including the
it is accepted for membership by the General Assembly.
2.3 Each member federation has one vote in the General Assembly; they are entitled to
. they are authorised to submit proposals to FIDE; they are entitled to participate in a
regulations; they are also authorised to scrutinise, through the Verification Commis
of FIDE.
2.4 The members must acknowledge and observe the statutes, regulations, resolutions
. also obliged to pay the membership fees and the other FIDE contributions fixed by t
designated time. Moreover they are obliged to support FIDE actively in all chess act
is required to send to the Secretariat any changes in its address or officers within on
member is required to send to the Secretariat at the latest by April 1st of each year
following information:
a. the name, address and email address of the Federation;
b. the name and email address of the President (who, regardless of his tit
referred to as such within these Statutes and any other FIDE regulation
c. the name and email address of the General Secretary;
d. the name and email address of the officer who is the intermediary betw
Delegate);
e. the names of the national champions;
f. the title and address of the official bulletin, if any;
g. the numbers of players belonging directly or indirectly to the federatio
question, or, if this is not possible, at the end of the previous fiscal yea
When a federation does not supply the data mentioned in sub (g), the Secretariat sh
members, after consultation with the President of the Zone. The same procedure sh
given by the federation contains obvious mistakes.
2.5 Members not fulfilling the duties mentioned in art. 2.4 may be temporarily excluded
. General Assembly/Executive Board/Presidential Board and permanently excluded fr
General Assembly.
A member in arrears in the fulfilment of its financial obligations towards FIDE may b
Presidential Board, Executive Board or General Assembly. This temporary exclusion
temporarily excluded member has fulfilled its financial obligations 60 days before th
the temporary exclusion. No participation in any FIDE event or meeting will be perm
period. Payments made after the 60 days but before the General Assembly will not
majority approval of the General Assembly.
The Treasurer shall include information in his report on those federations that shoul
excluded.
A temporary exclusion made by the Presidential Board or Executive Board shall be s
Assembly, which will decide on the permanent exclusion of the negligent federation
prior to any election.
In other matters a permanent exclusion can be ruled by the General Assembly only
severe offence against the statutes, regulations, resolutions or decisions, or acts ag
taking into account the opinion of the Ethics Commission. This must be an agenda
2.6 The members have the right to withdraw from FIDE. The Secretariat must be inform
. at the latest three months in advance. Payment of membership fees and all other c
until the date of withdrawal becomes effective. Membership fees or other contributi
member withdraws or is excluded.
2.7 A provisional member has all the rights and obligations of a full member except tha
have the right to vote in the General Assembly nor are its representatives eligible to
rules for withdrawal or exclusion are the same as for full members. If a provisional m
membership status within five years, then the provisional membership may be reco
the General Assembly, failing which the provisional membership would automatical
A. ADMINISTRATIVE SUBJECTS / 03.
Electoral Rules / Electoral Rules
effective from 29 December 2021 /
Electoral Rules effective from 29 December
2021
PART I – GENERAL PROVISIONS
Art. 1 Scope of application
1.1 The Electoral Rules, approved by the General Assembly,
regulate the organisation of FIDE elections for all aspects not
expressly provided for by the FIDE Charter. In the event of any
inconsistency or contradiction between these Electoral Rules
 and the FIDE Charter, the FIDE Charter shall prevail. All terms
shall have the meaning given to them in the FIDE Charter
unless otherwise defined herein.
1.2 The Electoral Rules shall apply to elections for: FIDE President,
members of the Council, members of the Verification
Commission, members of the Constitutional Commission,
members of the Ethics and Disciplinary Commission, Zonal
Presidents.
1.3 The Electoral Rules shall also apply to elections for the
Presidents and other organs of FIDE Continents, when recalled
by the internal rules of the FIDE Continents or when internal
rules of the FIDE Continents do not contain specific provisions
about elections.
1.4 The general principles of the Electoral Rules are, in any case,
applicable to FIDE Continents elections and to all other FIDE
elections. Electoral Rules concerning the schedule and the
organisation of the FIDE Congress are also applicable to FIDE
Continents elections.
1.5 The Electoral Rules shall apply to all persons who have the
right to vote in FIDE elections.
1.6 The Electoral Rules shall apply to all persons who are
candidates for FIDE elections, as from the moment that those
persons declare themselves to be candidates or potential
candidates for a given office or engages in campaign or similar
activities that give the appearance that he or she is a
candidate.
1.7 The Electoral Rules shall also apply to all persons listed in art.
26.7 and 26.8 of the FIDE Charter.
Art. 2 General principles
2.1 All elections in FIDE must be carried out through a fair, open
and transparent process, in accordance with the principles of
good governance and with the Olympic values. This includes
carrying out all electoral activities by an impartial and effective
administration, counting and publicly reporting accurate
election results.
2.2 No undue obstacle or restriction to the exercise of electoral
rights, both active and passive, must be placed.
2.3 Electoral campaigns shall be carried out in a fair and
reputable manner and, more generally, in a spirit of respect for
fundamental ethical principles.
2.4 Voters must be entirely free in their decision and must on no
account be interfered with by threats, fear of retribution,
bribery or pressure.
2.5 Interferences of any kind in the electoral procedure and in the
outcome of elections in FIDE, by governments, national or
international organisations or any other entity, external to
FIDE, are not permitted. Behaviours considered by these
Electoral Rules as legitimate may not be qualified as
interferences.
2.6 The endorsement of a candidacy is possible, but without
creating any undue pressure on voters and in the full respect
of these Electoral Rules. No collective endorsements, by a
group of Member Federations or by other entities are
admissible.