Media Exposes Alleged Criminal Who Sent Pornography and Condoms to Underage Chess Players
BERLIN, Germany — Meduza, a popular Russian-language media, published an explosive investigation about underage female chess players who have been receiving pornographic clippings and used condoms in the mail. The scheme has been going on for decades, and more than 50 victims were identified.
Top Russian female chess players have been receiving envelopes with clippings from the porgographic magazines, including those with rape scenes, as well as used condoms. Many have dismissed such letters as crude jokes, but some have been concerned enough to file police reports.
According to Meduza, the alleged perpetrator is a chess player from Latvia, Andrejs Strebkovs. His current FIDE title is International Master. The reporters were able to identify the suspect by doing a complex online forensic work with the help of former hackers and by deploying data from the online email leaks.
The latest incident, Meduza writes, took place in Riga, Latvia, during the 2021 FIDE Grand Swiss, a prestigious tournament and part of the World Chess Championship cycle, when several female chess players received envelopes at their hotel.
According to FIDE, the Grand Swiss organizers, upon learning of the incident, have immediately filed the report with the Latvian police, asking them to investigate the situation while trying not to disturb the players until the tournament was completed.
The article was updated with FIDE and Grand Swiss response after information on this was provided by FIDE.
