GM Jankovic Denies Fraud Allegations, Calls Timing "No Coincidence" Amid Election Bid
GM Alojzije Jankovic has strongly denied allegations of financial misconduct and called the Croatian Chess Federation's announcement that it has filed a criminal complaint against its former secretary general an attempt to damage his reputation.
The federation released a statement on its website last week, saying it had submitted a complaint to the state prosecutor’s office following a "months-long internal audit" that uncovered alleged irregularities in financial operations during Jankovic’s time in office. The allegations include embezzlement, fraud, and fraud in business operations, the federation said.
Jankovic held the position as secretary general from 2016, but the federation said his contract was terminated in May 2025 due to what it described as "serious violations of employment obligations."
UPDATE May 5: The Croatian Chess Federation has not disclosed details of the allegations or indicated whether any external audit has corroborated its findings, but provided a statement to Chess.com, which has been added to this story below.
Jankovic: 'Attempt To Draw Attention Elsewhere'
Jankovic, a 43-year-old grandmaster, is ranked fourth in Croatia with a peak rating of 2593 from 2017. He also serves as one of the vice presidents of the European Chess Union (ECU). In recent years, he has been the lead commentator during some of its major events, most recently at the European Chess Championship which concluded on April 20.
The case has drawn attention in Croatian media over the past week, including in a report by 24sata that suggests that the alleged amount owed to the federation could amount to as much as €190,000 (~$220,000). That figure has not been confirmed by the federation.
The grandmaster has strongly denied the accusations and published a response on his Facebook page where he talks about "incorrect claims," suggesting they are part of an internal conflict within Croatian chess. He points to earlier controversies within the federation, in particular at the 2015 European Youth Championship before his time in office.
"I have already refuted many untrue statements, mainly by the current president," he told Chess.com. "This was an obvious attempt to draw attention elsewhere."
This was an obvious attempt to draw attention elsewhere.
—Alojzije Jankovic
"In 2018, the Croatian Chess Federation filed a criminal complaint against Branimir Jukic and other persons involved in the 2015 European Youth Championship. I came to the federation in April 2016," he said. "That championship brought €100,000 in debts. The Ministry of Finance made an investigation, and Jukic’s role was mentioned together with many violations."
He also referenced former ECU Executive Director and Montenegro chess official Vladimir Sakotic, who was banned for three years by the FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission in 2016, alleging that he has ties to the current federation leadership.
Jankovic Claims Link To ECU Election
The complaint comes shortly after Jankovic was announced as a candidate for secretary general on Lukasz Turlej’s ticket for the upcoming European Chess Union (ECU) presidential election.
Jankovic believes the timing is not accidental. "When Jukic came to the federation in late 2024, I didn’t want to be a part of it anymore knowing his and Sakotic's track record. I knew they might try to come up with something to ruin my reputation, but here it's obvious the timing is also connected with the ECU ticket's announcement," he claims.
Lukasz Turlej defended his running mate in a statement to Chess.com:
According to the competent authorities in Croatia, no criminal proceedings are pending against Alojzije Jankovic, and he has not been convicted of any offense. Our position is based solely on these verified facts, not on unconfirmed accusations.
Unproven claims should not be interpreted as evidence of wrongdoing. Such matters should be assessed only based on confirmed findings by the relevant authorities, rather than media interpretations.
It is also worth noting that these allegations appeared online immediately after the announcement of our candidacy for the European Chess Union elections, and more than one year after Alojzije Jankovic ended his cooperation with the Croatian Chess Federation, which raises reasonable questions about their timing and purpose.
We remain committed to transparency, integrity, and full cooperation with all competent institutions. If there are any confirmed updates, we’ll address them accordingly. Until then, we remain focused on our work and on contributing positively to the future of European chess.
The Croatian Chess Federation Responds
Chess.com sent the Croatian Chess Federation several questions related to this story. While some of those questions were not addressed directly, the federation’s Secretary General, Daria Grguric, provided a statement.
The federation said it was "its duty to report the irregularities identified," and that an internal review confirmed "numerous irregularities" which led to the termination of Jankovic's contract and the filing of the criminal complaint.
The Croatian Chess Federation strongly condemns any misuse of funds that belong to Croatian chess and its players. We remain fully dedicated to the development of chess in Croatia, especially for young talents and top players, as well as to the promotion of the game, guided by its value and importance, and not by the interests of individuals, all for the benefit of chess in Croatia.
It also rejected claims about the timing of the case, stating that the matter “has no connection whatsoever with the elections within the European Chess Union” and that relevant materials had been submitted to legal representatives "well before any electoral tickets were announced."
It also said that allegations against its president, Branimir Jukic, are "entirely unfounded" and "serve only to divert attention from the core issue."
The Croatian Chess Federation did not disclose any details of the allegations or answer a question as to whether any external audit has corroborated its findings.
