Chess is mental torture.
I don't have to run for Presidency in Russia to feel good about myself. I already completed more than many people could have dreamed of.
I have some security that could protect me against provocations but of course there are more terrible actions that could not be stopped by any security.
I have some strategical vision, I could calculate some few moves ahead and I have an intellect that is badly missed in the country which is run by generals and colonels.
I learned that fighting on the chess board could also have an impact on the political climate in the country.
I may play some exhibition games so I don't want to quit the game of chess completely. I just decided and it's a firm decision not to play competitive chess anymore.
I think it will be more difficult to deal with me as Putin deals with Khordokovsky.
I think our chances are not looking great today but the only way to fail for me is just not to try.
I think Russian people are learning that democracy is not an alien thing; it's not a western invention.
I think Russians today have a distorted picture of capitalism, liberal democracy and market economy.
I think that it's a vital moment now for Russian democracy to convince people that it's only our actions, our joined actions and protests that could force Kremlin to reconsider its plans to abolish presidential elections.
I think we have very steady records of President Putin, who inherited the country with democratic values.
I wouldn't overestimate the importance of my popularity in the country and abroad but at the end of the day it's not as important because I believe that my presence here could make some difference and it could encourage people.
I'm still number one and I just recently won a major tournament ahead of my toughest rivals so I think I had a few years ahead of me if I decided to stay.
I've met enough KGB colonels in my life.
If you make a decision to fight for future of your own country you have to consider all the consequences.
It didn't take long to recognise the shortcomings of the Soviet regime and to see the values of the free world.
It was inevitable for me to step into the political fight after playing these long endless matches with Anatoli Karpov, who was my greatest rival and also darling of the system.
It was not about losing my mental power; it's about not feeling good about my contribution to the game.
It's about stopping the bleeding. The country is not yet ready to start a new campaign for presidential elections because first we have to make sure that we have this mechanism restored and we have election that looks like elections not just appointment of the Kremlin candidate.
It's absolutely vital now for Russia to make sure that democratic institutions will be resurrected and will go through the election process.
It's quite difficult for me to imagine my life without chess.
Kremlin-controlled press never stops short of inventing stories about Putin's political opponents.
More and more people in my country recognise the dangers of having their governors appointed by Putin and having no influence in parliament because Parliament today is also following instructions from Kremlin and no longer represents its people.
No one knows where the business ends and the government begins and vice versa and I think that it should take some time before Russian people could recognise the virtues of liberal democracy and market economy but we need first to make sure that political system will be based on those principles.
Putin can't afford to leave the office because he will be in real danger of being prosecuted for things he and his people did during their stay in power.
Russian Parliament today is a bunch of puppets that just fall in with the instructions from Kremlin.
Russians are dreaming about better living, about the quality of the living standards.
So far it's very hard to prove that joining Europe or joining any other international organisation could change their lives for better.
Some of the myth of the Soviet time are still dominating the minds of many Russians.
Soviet Union was the success of Russian Empire which was multinational multi-confessional state, and as long as we live in the same state I'm part of this state as much as President Putin.
The only successor to President Putin is President Putin himself and we could of course dream about President Putin stepping down voluntarily and picking out successor which would be probably as bad as him.
The real political life in Russia unfortunately is not in the parliament but on the streets and in the media.
There are many facts showing that Putin's people enriched themselves by using power mechanisms so that's why for them losing power means losing their fortunes.
There are many ways of showing your protest and discontent without the actions of Kremlin.
Ukraine had quite serious impact on the many Russians. They could see that ordinary people in Ukraine which is a bordering state, very close to Russia, the people of this state are, they didn't want to tolerate anymore the power abuse by Ukrainian officials.
We have to stop the propaganda, the shameful propaganda used by Kremlin to rehabilitate these old types.
Women, by their nature, are not exceptional chess players: they are not great fighters.
You can share a link to this page with your friend!