The Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia has decided to withdraw its lawsuit aimed at confiscating the assets of Timur Turlov, the President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), on behalf of the Russian state.

Deputy Prosecutor General Igor Tkachev submitted a motion to the Tverskoy District Court in Moscow to retract the lawsuit, which was being heard by the court.

The lawsuit was initially filed in early October against Turlov, a Kazakhstani businessman, and his holding company Freedom Finance, which he established. Sources mentioned by Kommersant suggested that the lawsuit was related to Turlov’s contributions to humanitarian initiatives in Ukraine.

This legal action was initiated shortly after Turlov assumed the presidency of FIDE, succeeding the former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, who had been subjected to sanctions by the EU.

In recent times, there has been a notable surge in the Russian government’s efforts to nationalize private assets through court judgments, showcasing a new trend in the legal landscape.

Moreover, Russia has outlined its strategies for seizing the assets of individuals deemed public enemies, including anti-war activists, as part of their broader agenda.

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