Lavrov in conversation with Kerry outraged by U.S. visa refusal to FIDE president Ilyumzhinov
MOSCOW. Nov 14 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed his outrage to United States Secretary of State John Kerry over the refusal of a U.S. visa to World Chess Federation (FIDE) President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"Lavrov expressed his outrage at the refusal to issue a U.S. visa to World Chess Federation (FIDE) President Ilyumzhinov, making it impossible for him to attend a FIDE world premiership match in New York," the ministry said on its website after a telephone conversation between Lavrov and Kerry.
Ilyumzhinov was placed on the U.S. Department of Treasury's sanctions list a year ago and cannot enter the country. He has since tried to solve the problem but was unable to resolve the situation in time for the match. Thus, for the first time ever, a FIDE president was unable to initiate the match in person.
