MOSCOW, April 12. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has bestowed the Order of Friendship onto Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nehyan, the president of the Asian Chess Federation, for promoting the game in Russia and abroad.
In February 2023, the Asian governing body of the sport approved the transition of the Russian Chess Federation into its fold from the European Chess Union.
Putin also bestowed the Order of Alexander Nevsky onto Russian Chess Federation President Andrey Filatov for his contribution to the development and popularization of the sport in the country.
Valentina Gunina, the 2023 World Blitz Champion, was awarded the Order of Honor. The Order of Friendship was awarded to Sergey Rublyovsky, a senior coach of the Russian national chess team, and Sergey Yanovsky, the head coach.
Executive Director of the Russian Chess Federation Alexander Tkachev was awarded the Medal of the Order for Merit to the Fatherland, Second Class., was awarded the Medal of the Order for Merit to the Fatherland, Second Class.