Russian flag

Bring me back my flag

https://www.chess.com/blog/CHESScom/on-the-invasion-of-ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is bad. But honestly, I find this kind of policy rather silly and divisive against Russian people. If the argument is that Putin is an evil dictator, then we can assume that Russians - who did not choose were they born - are subjected to suppression in various forms, so those who oppose the war and still live in Russia / have family in Russia will not let their voices heard anyway. Them not speaking about it or displaying the flag of their nationality does not say anything about their political stance. They are just a chess player from a country where many great chess players are from, and many normal and nice people, and blanking out their flag actually literally paints them ALL as the enemy, while their only "crime" is wanting to play a game of chess online. There are many countries in the world who have been involved in unwarranted wars of aggression or actively violating human rights. The consensus about sporting events (which chess is) has always been that politics stay largely out of it. Besides small forms of protest, initiated by those who are or feel afflicted by another country, but certainly not by the organisers. The organisers of sporting events should not be involved in any such activism. They should provide a neutral ground where citizens of all countries should feel safe to come together and compete in a competitive and friendly environment, and are encouraged to have friendly dialogue and interactions. Only when we understand each other's perspectives through dialogue, sports and collaboration in various forms outside of politics, will doors open for peace. When you start casting people out by not acknowledging parts of their identity (nationality), you do nothing but give a Putin the ammunition he needs to keep the war going.