Arkady Dvorkovich

Career

Since 1994 – consultant, senior expert, CEO, scientific director of the Economic Expert Group of the Ministry of Finance of Russia Since 2000 – expert in the "Center for Strategic Research" Since August 2000 – adviser to the Minister for Economic Development of the Russian Federation German Gref Since 2001 – Deputy Minister for Economic Development of the Russian Federation Since April 2004 – Head of Expert Group of President of the Russian Federation Since 13 May 2008 – Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation 21 May 2012 to 7 May 2018 – Deputy Prime Minister of Russia

In 2018, he served as chairman of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Local Organizing Committee, collaborating closely with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who later praised him for his work. Subsequently, on 3 October 2018, he was elected FIDE President, receiving 103 votes, ahead of 78 votes for FIDE Vice President Georgios Makropoulos; noted English GM Nigel Short withdrew his candidacy minutes before voting commenced. Following these comments, Andrey Turchak, a senior official from Putin's United Russia party, accused Dvorkovich of "national betrayal" and acting as a "fifth column," calling for his "immediate dismissal in disgrace". Following this pressure, a statement was issued via the Skolkovo Foundation website, which nuanced his earlier position by expressing pride in the courage of Russian soldiers and condemning Western sanctions, shortly before he left the Foundation. In June 2026, he again put forward his candidacy for the FIDE presidential elections, which are scheduled for September. His competitors will be Russian-Kazakh businessman Timur Turlov, Russian-German businessman Wadim Rosenstein, German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner and Russian statesman and political figure, ex-president of FIDE Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

In July 2026 Dvorkovich was included in the European Union list of sanctions. As a result, he "decided to voluntarily suspend the exercise of my powers and duties as FIDE President", with his functions being temporarily assumed by his Deputy President, Vishwanathan Anand.

Honours and awards Order of Merit for the Fatherland 4th class Order of Honour Medal 2nd class of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland Medal "In Commemoration of the 1000th Anniversary of Kazan" Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic