Garry Kasparov: The Match Of His Life

Steve Kroft Interviews The Chess Legend About His Political Ambitions

(CBS)  For 20 years Garry Kasparov was the greatest chess player in the world. He won his first world championship at the age of 22 and was ranked number one almost continuously until he retired from international competition two years ago, a Russian hero and a very wealthy man. He could have done anything he wanted. Instead, he chose to make the riskiest move of his career: he entered the treacherous world of Russian politics, and has become one of President Vladimir Putin's harshest critics, accusing him of abolishing democratic reforms, and turning over the country's vast natural resources to a small political elite.

It is the match of his life. As correspondent Steve Kroft reports, the odds are long, and the dangers considerable, but Kasparov believes the soul of a nation is at stake.

---

Throughout his career, Kasparov intimidated opponents with his intensity, creativity, and daring. He could look at a chessboard and see 15 moves ahead. At a Toronto exhibition in June, he took on 20 opponents and beat all of them in an hour-and-a-half.

But his latest undertaking -- leading protests against a powerful and popular government -- is a much more difficult challenge. This time it is Kasparov who is considered the amateur, playing against grandmasters in the Kremlin.

Asked what the difference is between chess and politics, Kasparov tells Kroft, "Chess has rules. And everybody has to follow the rules. And in Russian politics there are no rules at all. Except one rule: the Kremlin, our opponents, changing rules at their convenience anytime they want."

And the man who changed them is President Vladimir Putin.

When Putin was elected seven years ago, regional governors were selected by the people; now they are appointed by Putin's office. Big media outlets once receptive to a wide range of political views have fallen under state control, and opposition groups like Kasparov's "United Civil Front" say they have been shut out of the national debate and cut off from the electoral process.

"We're facing a very dangerous regime that is threatening not only the future of my country but the stability of the whole world," Kasparov says.

What is he opposing?

"Every element of this regime. No elections. Censorship. The destruction of all democratic institutions," Kasparov says.

Kasparov doesn't believe that today's Russia is a democracy. He calls it a "police state."

When he has been able to organize protests, Kasparov has been met with thousands upon thousands of riot police and special troops brought in from the countryside to ensure order and discourage participation, sometimes with truncheons.

Kasparov has been detained, fined, and investigated. He assumes his political headquarters in Moscow is bugged and that he is under constant surveillance.

In December, the authorities raided his office looking for evidence Kasparov had violated a vaguely-worded extremism law, which makes it a crime to make false statements about government officials. It was enacted to fight terrorism, but now Kasparov says it is being used to stifle dissent. But it hasn't stopped him from speaking out.

"I would probably say that Putin doesn't run the country, he runs a corporation. Call it KGB Incorporated," Kasparov says. "He is working on behalf of the ruling elite that wants to benefit from looting the country."

Asked if he is an "extremist," Kasparov tells Kroft, "I'm afraid that by current Russian law, yes. Because that's what Russian law implies."

"Technically speaking," Kasparov says he could go to prison just for criticizing the government or staging a rally. And he says the penalties could be up to six years in prison.

It would not be the first time government critics have been silenced. Mikhail Khodorkovsky was once one of the richest men in Russia, until he displayed some political ambition. Now he's in a Siberian prison. The investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya was shot to death in her Moscow apartment building. And former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned in London with polonium.

There’s no evidence linking Putin to the deaths, but there is no denying that bad things tend to happen to people who challenge authority.

"There have been people in this country, prominent people, who have lost their lives. Does that concern you?" Kroft asks.

"It does," Kasparov admits. "You know I'm [a] normal human being. I have my private life. And my loved ones concern about my safety. I try to reduce the risk."

Asked if he thinks he's still protected somewhat by his fame and the fact he's still considered a national hero, Kasparov tells Kroft, "It does help to a certain degree. But it is not an ultimate protection. No one is safe in Putin's Russia."

[rynodullboy]

This country has outlived a normal democracy, due to its helpless citizens. You at CBS, with a humanistic soul, which for many reasons are incapable of touching, will air this story as our young men and women die as you continue you treachery. This country will die soon, I hope the deepest levels of hell exist for you.

[morsel22]

Sorry for the repeated posts. Whenever I clicked the ''publish'' button I kept getting a msg saying something like ''the publish button has been temporarily disabled''. :(

[morsel22]

You say:

"Like most of these events, it was widely covered by the Western media, and all but ignored by the Russian press."

I say:

Where were you, Mr. Kroft and 60-Minutes, when nearly 300,000 Americans marched against the Iraq war last January? Where were you when tens of thousands demonstrated against the war on September 15? Where have you been as repeated vigils against the war have been taking place since before the "shock and awe" campaign began?

Where will you be on October 27th when hundreds of thousands in ten major cities across our country will take to the streets once again to wage their protests against continuing this disastrous war? Will you air a segment covering voices of dissent in our own country?

[morsel22]

You say:

"Like most of these events, it was widely covered by the Western media, and all but ignored by the Russian press."

I say:

Where were you, Mr. Kroft and 60-Minutes, when nearly 300,000 Americans marched against the Iraq war last January? Where were you when tens of thousands demonstrated against the war on September 15? Where have you been as repeated vigils against the war have been taking place since before the "shock and awe" campaign began?

Where will you be on October 27th when hundreds of thousands in ten major cities across our country will take to the streets once again to wage their protests against continuing this disastrous war? Will you air a segment covering voices of dissent in our own country?

[morsel22]

You say:

"Like most of these events, it was widely covered by the Western media, and all but ignored by the Russian press."

I say:

Where were you, Mr. Kroft and 60-Minutes, when nearly 300,000 Americans marched against the Iraq war last January? Where were you when tens of thousands demonstrated against the war on September 15? Where have you been as repeated vigils against the war have been taking place since before the "shock and awe" campaign began?

Where will you be on October 27th when hundreds of thousands in ten major cities across our country will take to the streets once again to wage their protests against continuing this disastrous war? Will you air a segment covering voices of dissent in our own country?

[morsel22]

You say:

"Like most of these events, it was widely covered by the Western media, and all but ignored by the Russian press."

I say:

Where were you, Mr. Kroft and 60-Minutes, when nearly 300,000 Americans marched against the Iraq war last January? Where were you when tens of thousands demonstrated against the war on September 15? Where have you been as repeated vigils against the war have been taking place since before the "shock and awe" campaign began?

Where will you be on October 27th when hundreds of thousands in ten major cities across our country will take to the streets once again to wage their protests against continuing this disastrous war? Will you air a segment covering voices of dissent in our own country?

[morsel22]

You say:

"Like most of these events, it was widely covered by the Western media, and all but ignored by the Russian press."

I say:

Where were you, Mr. Kroft and 60-Minutes, when nearly 300,000 Americans marched against the Iraq war last January? Where were you when tens of thousands demonstrated against the war on September 15? Where have you been as repeated vigils against the war have been taking place since before the "shock and awe" campaign began?

Where will you be on October 27th when hundreds of thousands in ten major cities across our country will take to the streets once again to wage their protests against continuing this disastrous war? Will you air a segment covering voices of dissent in our own country?

[morsel22]

You say:

"Like most of these events, it was widely covered by the Western media, and all but ignored by the Russian press."

I say:

Where were you, Mr. Kroft and 60-Minutes, when nearly 300,000 Americans marched against the Iraq war last January? Where were you when tens of thousands demonstrated against the war on September 15? Where have you been as repeated vigils against the war have been taking place since before the "shock and awe" campaign began?

Where will you be on October 27th when hundreds of thousands in ten major cities across our country will take to the streets once again to wage their protests against continuing this disastrous war? Will you air a segment covering voices of dissent in our own country?

[morsel22]

You say:

"Like most of these events, it was widely covered by the Western media, and all but ignored by the Russian press."

I say:

Where were you, Mr. Kroft and 60-Minutes, when nearly 300,000 Americans marched against the Iraq war last January? Where were you when tens of thousands demonstrated against the war on September 15? Where have you been as repeated vigils against the war have been taking place since before the "shock and awe" campaign began?

Where will you be on October 27th when hundreds of thousands in ten major cities across our country will take to the streets once again to wage their protests against continuing this disastrous war? Will you air a segment covering voices of dissent in our own country?

[kymato3]

"Kasparov is national hero..."

mr.Steve Kroft what kind of drugs do you us,when a write article ?

[prinzowhales]

Alas, snidegrass, ''Liz is not me Mum.
I was birthed in a berth, fathered by
dock workers, formed of steel, alive
with sinew and blood, launched too early
by far from the womb and christened at
Cammell Lairds at Birkenhead and after
tea with a German Chancellor, hauled a
nasty fat man to Newfoundland. But,
while touring the Pacific, ill
advisedly, I might add, was lost
beneath the waves after leaving
Singapore and reborn...and re-christened
"Prinzowhales", by my new sounding friends.

[tnt1954]

in casino royale, the movie starring daniel craig,
vesper lynd, is so sadly a traitor due to her
country sweden, being bankrupt and somehow she
must get that money for her country sweden. the
lynds have been hounded for years ever since
jenny lind took more than her fair share from
p.t. barnum when she was the most famous singer
in the world, the swedish songbird. she was one
of the biggest draws in the world in the century
of dickens. a most interesting biography to read,
jenny lind. some spell it lynd. daniel tried
so hard to save vesper even if she had to go
over to the enemy with the money. but in the end
we find out the evil isle of wight is behind it,
rather like the old nazi actor, wilfred hyde-whyte,
with his always sly fox grin. get him james.
scandinavia is no longer neutral. who says
a cartoonist cannot draw what he wants? blasphemy
laws? c''mon. lapland, sweden station to the
rescue. now, let''s all get along on the curling
ice.

[tnt1954]

ya know i betcha you really are charles the prince
of wales. the cavaliers are up against the roundheads again as they have been for quite some
time. in 1967, with mick jagger under house
arrest at kings row, i was no more than ten yards
from your mother, elizabeth and king faisal as
they rode through hyde park in royal carriage.
my first impulse was violent. with american
brainwashing. but i checked myself, even though
i was a rather ardent stones fan. i saw mick
jagger too, emerge from kings row apartments
where he was under house arrest, as we whizzed
by on a double decker red bus. what a thrill
for me. i hope fickling''s disease can be stopped.
fickle fickling of norfolk and norwich. a long
distinguished line. they are so indecisive at times.
but ever so determined to crank out super profits
and defeat that mountebank trump. i had to work
for my uncle for free in after the 1987 crash
in sayville, ny. the least we could do after
my ma found him her birth family, and he almost
fainted dead away. so we pitched in there, got
him going again. its a strange disease first
appeared in the medical literature after the
magna carta in the 13th century to oddly enuff
only ficklings there in norfolk county. and
it spread. very contagious disease. has definite
symptoms, especially of vendetta and revenge.
like the count of monte cristo. good luck charles.
nobody likes you really, but i think you''re a real
swell guy, just to be in the british military. wow.

[tnt1954]

i apologize i have made a minor error. the chess
match i spoke of in 2002 was an israeli championship
between emil sutovsky and ilia smirin, both soviet
emigres'' to israel. they are still both only
in their twenties. do not underestimate the power
of senility. some of us, receive dementia early
in life against their will, from many causes, even
chemical warfare. the german swiss corporation
sandoz inc. was most effective for the nazis.
hoffman was most diligent in 1939 in developing
lsd-25 and many other derivatives for use by
the fuehrer at a great price of course, for
world conquest as one of hoffman''s favorite
songs also was ''ride of the valkyries'' by wagner.
mine happens to be swan lake by tschiaowsky.
and the nutcracker suite. saw it at the pilgrimage
theater in hollywood, ca at about 3 years of age.
born in los angeles, just off skid row on hope st.
its only natural that ''colorful'' things happen
to them, even in checkmate, one of the shows i
was in with doug mcclure and sebastian cabot.
looks like the Greatest Depression is the way.
can we get out of checkmate even after it has
happened. perhaps. thanks for the circus comment.

[prinzowhales]

snidegrass--Well, lucky, lucky me...the 17th is my birthday...and I was very, very disappointed with the San Francisco earthquake...I''m hoping for something better this time...ponies, perhaps, and dancing bears.

[tnt1954]

the 2002 chess match between russia and israel
was fascinating with the sicilian defence. israel
won, russia resigning about five moves before
checkmate. odds isn''t it. i was kinda a chess
fan there for some time, even with clocks way
back in the early 70''s. learned as a little kid
from my neighbor genius. actually rootin tootin
putin disputin rasputin. in the union of soviet
america, it is somewhat the same way as in russia.
thanks mr. kroft for the great story. as the 90th
anniversary of the bolshevik revolution approaches,
try and remember how the bums were thrown out,
the soviets withdrew from the great war, and people
in russia obeyed the edicts of fatima, portugal
and shared and shared alike. october 17th is
going to be quite some day, for stock markets
around the world. some say us stock markets
will plummet 90% in one hour on that day. sober
nations is angry. charity is a joke. we get
calls from organziations who allegedly feed the
poor of russia. its a bunco racket. nothing
gets to the poor at all. the return of the bolshoi.
but should you be forced to share and share alike?
common stock? peasant stock?

[prinzowhales]

The swindler Kasparov caught up, perhaps, in an Oligarch''s web? He is of Armenian and Jewish heritage...hardly someone who could be called "Russian" in this day and age, regardless of his passport.

http://english.pravda.ru/main/2002/12/30/41541.html

Kasparov is a good Neo-Con--he is a liar--a slinking, no good cur whose loyalty is measured in shekels...yet another piece of flotsam picked up for a song by criminal oligarchs hiding out in London and Israel and used to attack the democratically elected Vladimir Putin.

This idiot savant of the chess world talks of the emasculation of the Russian Parliament under Putin and whines that, "The glimmer of democracy during Boris Yeltsin''s years, however messy, [is] being entirely extinguished %u2026 Russia today is a police state masquerading as a democracy," Kasparov said.

Do you really think that the chess champ has forgotten that the drunkard Yeltsin SHELLED PARLIAMENT INTO SUBMISSION!! Do you think he fogets that this Parliament supportED President Putin freely and is freely elected--unshelled, un-threatened and unharmed?

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/06/19/kasparov-speech.html?ref=rss

Kasparov presents us with the same old lies and the same old grudges. Perhaps he would be more convincing if he were not the lackey of oligarch Berezovksy. President Putin has been elected and re-elected President...while Kasparov plays his lying games.

[truthheals]

So Gary, how much is billionaire Boris Berezovsky paying you to challenge Putin?