Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Russian provincial governor who claims to have visited an alien spaceship was re-elected as president of the World Chess Federation yesterday, ending a long, bitter campaign that critics said descended into intimidation and farce.
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who has been president of the federation since 1995, defeated Anatoly Karpov for the leadership of the Federation, known by its French acronym of Fide, by 95 votes to 55.
But supporters of Mr Karpov claimed that he had been denied by blatant rule-breaking by the eventual winner, who went so far as to switch off his critics' microphones at the Fide meeting in the Siberian city of Khanty-Mansiysk in order to continue to speak himself.
Mr Ilyumzhinov, who is the governor of the province of Kalmykia, denied the claims of impropriety and voting irregularities. Mr Karpov had pledged to overhaul the chess authorities to clean up alleged corruption in the global game. He was offered the vice-presidency by Mr Ilyumzhinov after the votes were counted.
Mr Ilyumzhinov claims that he uses hypnosis in daily communication and consults clairvoyants in his business affairs.
Rights activists have accused him of cronyism, corruption, rights abuses and squandering government funds on chess championships and Buddhist temples – allegations he has denied.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments