MOSCOW, June 6 (Itar-Tass) - The ex-world chess champion, Garry Kasparov, is of no interest to investigators, according to Vladimir Markin, the head of the Russian Investigation Committee.
Markin told Itar-Tass on Thursday about reasons behind Kasparov decision, voiced in Geneva, to stay abroad and not to return to Russia because of political persecution by the authorities.
“I used to shuttle back and forth until late February when it became clear that the ongoing investigation into activities of political activists could also touch me,” Kasparov, who is an active opposition member, said.
"I have good or perhaps bad news for Kasparov,” Markin went on to say. “The Investigation Committee has never summoned him for questioning, and investigators have no interest in him at all, “he added.
Markin said that it was only once that Kasparov had given explanations to an investigator.
“Yes. It’s true that in 2012 he gave explanations to an investigator after a policeman complained that the grandmaster had allegedly bit his finger. No criminal proceedings were initiated against Kasparov at that time because the investigator did not see the element of crime in Kasparov’s actions,” Markin explained.
Garry Kasparov’s mother believes that her son’s departure from Russia is temporary and that he will come back.
"Indeed, Garry is unlikely to be seen in Russia in the near future because his schedule will be busy until mid-September. Let’s wait and see what happens next. But, please, stop building up tensions,” Klara Kasparova said.
“Anyway, Kasparov’s absence from Russia is temporary,” she added.