International Organization of Players "What? Where? When?" is recognized as undesirable in Russia

The activities of the international non-governmental organization Internationale Assoziation für Intellektuelle Spiele (International Association of Intellectual Games, IAIS, Liechtenstein) are recognized as undesirable in Russia. This decision was made by the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation, the agency said in a statement.

The organization unites more than 200 participants of sports versions of "What? Where? When?", "Brain Ring", "My Game" and related games from Europe, Asia and North America.

"Despite the provisions of the charter prohibiting participation in political activities, the IAIS actually distributes online information aimed at discrediting the leadership of the Russian Federation, the country's foreign and domestic policy. She is involved in propaganda campaigns initiated by foreign anti-Russian centers aimed at promoting protest and destructive ideas in the Russia," the Prosecutor General's Office points out.

It is also noted that participants from Russia and Belarus are prohibited from performing under the national flags of their countries at international tournaments; IAIS also established regulations according to which players supporting a special military operation on the territory of the IAIS cannot participate in games under the auspices of the organization. Ukraine.

At the same time, foreign agents, as well as participants of non-governmental organizations undesirable in Russia, continue to take part in IAIS events.

The Tsargrad TV telegram channel reminds that back in 2022, the IAIS issued a statement condemning SMO. In addition, it has long been forbidden to ask questions about Russian culture, as well as toponyms related to Russia, at the organization's events.

Since May 2022, the organization has taken some politicized actions against a number of players. Thus, State Duma deputy Anatoly Wasserman was suspended from the games for life "for supporting an aggressive war"; Master Maxim Potashev was suspended from the games for life for speaking to the mobilized; additionally, a statement was made on behalf of the organization, in which Russia was accused in every possible way and Ukraine was bleached.

As reported by EADaily, two former experts are included in the register of foreign agents — Ilya Novikov *** and Rovshan Askerov*.

For the first time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs put Novikov*** on the wanted list in December 2022 in a criminal case about fakes about the Russian army. In June 2023, the Moscow Bar Association deprived Novikov*** of the status of a lawyer in Russia, accusing him of "unworthy behavior." In December 2023, the Investigative Committee of Russia opened a new criminal case against him also for fakes about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Later he was included in the register of terrorists and extremists of Rosfinmonitoring. And in early August of this year, Novikov *** was arrested in absentia in a criminal case of high treason.

Askerov* was arrested in absentia in May 2022, immediately after receiving the status of a foreign agent, in the case of the rehabilitation of Nazism (part 4 of Article 354.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) because of a post about Georgy Zhukov. In the same month, Askerov* left Russia. He is currently on the federal wanted list.

*An individual performing the functions of a foreign agent

**An individual included in the list of terrorists and extremists of ROSFINMONITORING