Slonim authorities ban chess tournament

A known chess player and civil society activist Uladzimir Litvin has not been allowed by the Slonim district executive committee to organize on April 26 a chess tournament for teenagers, despite a valid agreement with local sports event organizers and the district executive committee. Moreover, local government did not finance the competition and it was a personal initiative of the activist.

As agreed, the tournament was to be held in Slonim’s district sports clubs. When young chess players began to gather outside the club, the doors appeared to be locked. It turned out that the government had organized its own tournament at the Cultural Center and most players went there. Uladzimir Litvin offered to allow the organizers to award the best chess players. However, Deputy Chairman of the Slonim district executive committee Siarhei Yushkevich threatened to call the police. And indeed, after a few minutes several policemen arrived at the Cultural Center.