The International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced Tuesday it has filed a formal complaint against former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, accusing him of harassment and of insulting the dignity of other players after he publicly leveled unproven cheating allegations, including against the late American grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky.
FIDE said the complaint, lodged with its Ethics & Disciplinary Commission, details what it describes as a pattern of conduct over roughly two years. The filing cites testimony from Czech grandmaster David Navara, who Kramnik also accused of cheating, and statements from people close to Naroditsky.
Kramnik raised suspicions about Naroditsky last year and continued to post allegations on social media thereafter. Naroditsky, 29, a highly regarded player who helped popularize chess online through instructional YouTube videos and livestreams, denied the accusations. His cause of death has not been released.
In his final livestream before his death, Naroditsky said Kramnik’s claims had taken a personal toll: “Ever since the Kramnik stuff, I feel like if I start doing well, people assume the worst of intentions. The issue is just the lingering effect of it,” he said.
Other leading players, including Hikaru Nakamura and Nihal Sarin, publicly criticized Kramnik’s conduct and said his behavior amounted to harassment. FIDE had earlier referred Kramnik’s statements, made before and after Naroditsky’s death, to its ethics commission; Tuesday’s announcement confirms the organisation has moved to formalize the complaint.
Under FIDE’s anti-cheating rules, making unfounded accusations driven by emotion or insufficient evidence can be subject to sanction, and the federation requires substantial proof before opening an official cheating investigation. FIDE said there are no documented records of any formal investigation into Naroditsky.
Kramnik has criticized FIDE’s inquiry in the past, calling it “insulting and unfair.” He did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent via his GoFundMe page, where he has promoted an anti-cheating campaign.
The Ethics & Disciplinary Commission will review the complaint and any relevant evidence as part of its process.