Garry Kasparov

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.

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.

It didn’t take long to recognise the shortcomings of the Soviet regime and to see the values of the free world.

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.

I think we have very steady records of President Putin, who inherited the country with democratic values.

If you make a decision to fight for future of your own country you have to consider all the consequences.

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.

Chess is mental torture.

There are many ways of showing your protest and discontent without the actions of Kremlin.

I learned that fighting on the chess board could also have an impact on the political climate in the country.

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by Putin and having no influence in parliament because Parliament today is also following instructions from Kremlin and no longer represents its people.

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.

It’s quite difficult for me to imagine my life without chess.

It was not about losing my mental power; it’s about not feeling good about my contribution to the game.

I think Russians today have a distorted picture of capitalism, liberal democracy and market economy.

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.

Russian Parliament today is a bunch of puppets that just fall in with the instructions from Kremlin.

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.

I’ve met enough KGB colonels in my life.

I think Russian people are learning that democracy is not an alien thing; it’s not a western invention.

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.

The real political life in Russia unfortunately is not in the parliament but on the streets and in the media.

Women, by their nature, are not exceptional chess players: they are not great fighters.

I think our chances are not looking great today but the only way to fail for me is just not to try.

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.

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.

We have to stop the propaganda, the shameful propaganda used by Kremlin to rehabilitate these old types.