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To: Mr.A.N.Tsapin, Mayor of Voronezh-town

Mr. A.P. Strekha, President of Chess Federation in Voronezh Region

Date: 19th July 2000

Dear Alexander Nikolaycvich and Alexander Pavlovich,

I am forced once again to draw your attention to the situation around chess activities in your region.

I am aware of the address made by chess veterans of Russia to you requesting for resolution of the issue on the oblast chess club's premises that would be positive for all chess-players. Directors of big enterprises in Voronezh and its oblast, famous scientists and artists have said "yes" to retaining the club - one of the best centres of chess activities in Russia. 1 also has addressed you on this issue.

However, the issue of retaining the club, as historical memory of Voronezh chess, and of assigning the right of all chess-players to their club has not been resolved yet, to my regret.

Participants of the chess memorial, taken place in June-July of this year and dedicated to the 751 anniversary of V.P.Zagorovsky's birthday - a world-known chess-player by correspondence, scientist-historian, professor -, put forward the initiative to perpetuate his name and to name the chess club after V.P.Zagorovsky. .

I fully support the opinion of Voronezh chess-players. Taking into consideration the fact that the local authorities have made a decision to hand over the club's premises to municipal property, it would be logical to finally settle down the issue and to approve the club's status as municipal chess club named after V.P.Zagorovsky. Of course, issues on rent payment, municipal services payment and other required costs should be settled as well. This kind of problems have been resolved in a number of regions of Russia, and for Voronezh, a big cultural and sports centre, this problem has been evidently dragged on.

Yours sincerely, A.Ye- Karpov

То : the Governor of Voronezh region, Chairman of Defense and Security Committee of Russian Federation Mr. LM.Shabanov

From : Garry Kasparov

26 September, 2000

Dear Ivan Mikhailovich,

As far as I know there has been a difficult situation with Voronezh local Chess Club lately. After the Club's premises were transferred from federal to municipal property chess players of Voronezh have all reasons to worry about a possible loss of their club.

The city of Voronezh has always been one of the chess centers for young chess players. This fact is of great importance nowadays when the Internet facilities are developing all over the world and the importance of children's chess has sufficiently increased. I am pleased to know that seven schools of Voronezh are going to take part in the World Internet Chess Championship for school chess teams.

That is why I am asking you, dear Ivan Mikhailovich, to help chess players of Voronezh save their club, the center of chess culture in Voronezh.

Yours sincerely,

World Champion G.K.Kasparov

To chairman of organization commitee of Chess Talents - 2000 Programme, Head of Voronezh Region Administration I.M. Shabanov

Dear Ivan Michailovich!

"Chernozemje" Association attach great importance not only to economic cooperation of our region but also to development of culture including chess development especially among children.

The forthcoming carrying out the first children tournament of represent actives of regions of Central Russia opening culture-sport programme "Chess Talents - 2000" will serve these aims. It is pleasant to note that the administration of Voronezh Region, Chernozemje Association, Union of chess federations of Central Russia and Chess Federation of Voronezh Region (wich is one of the most active and known by its activity) will take part in this event.

We welcome practical steps of administrations and heads of enterprises and organizations of all ranks in this direction and ask for help in realization of "Chess Talents - 2000" programme.

All of us should show public thinking and take care of the rising generation to-day.

Chairman Stroev 

To: Mr.A-N.Tsapin 20th July 2000 Mayor of Voronezh-town

Dear Alexander Nikolayevich,

In July 2000, Voronezh welcomed a memorial chess tournament named after V.P.Zagorovsky, a prominent Voronezh scientist, honoured master of sports, the 4th world champion in chess by correspondence, and dedicated to the 75th anniversary of his birthday.

Among the participants of the tournament were chess veterans, masters of sports and schoolchildren, who carried an appeal to establish a municipal chess club named after V.P.Zagorovsky .

Voronezh is an oblast centre with one-million population, and the Russian Chess Federation supports the initiative to set up such a club that would be a centre of development of chess and a centre of training young masters. Its municipal status will allow to draw attention of both the town authorities and entrepreneurs to the issue of the club's maintenance in terms of financial aid. Being the city's property, the club could be guaranteed against encroachments of commercial structures aspiring to the club's quarters on several occurrences.

The Russian Chess Federation considers the public initiative to set up a municipal chess club named after V.P.Zagorovsky in Voronezh-town as timely and useful.

A.V.SeIivanov

President of The Russian Chess Federation

Deputy of The State Duma

To: Mr.A.N.Tsapin, Mayor of Voronezh-town

Mr. A.P.Strekha, President of Chess Federation in Voronezh region

Date: 2nd August 2000

Dear Alexander Nikolayevich and Alexander Pavlovich,

Voronezh writers' organization of the Union of writers of Russia supports the initiative to set up a municipal chess club named after V.P.Zagorovsky, our fellow-countryman and a world-known chess-player. This initiative was taken by many participants of the memorial chess tournament dedicated to the 75th anniversary of his birthday. The club's municipal status will allow to draw attention of both the town authorities and entrepreneurs to the issue of the club's maintenance in terms of financial aid. Being the city's property, the club could be guaranteed against encroachments of commercial structures aspiring to the club's quarters on several occurrences.

To our regret, rumours have been recently spread that the chess club's quarters will be handed over to the children's town chess school, which contradicts both historical traditions and interests of chess development in Voronezh and Voronezh oblast. There are options of providing the said school with some other building, for instance, a kindergarten. Concealing their intentions by referring to children, commercial structures will be able to use the club's quarters in their interests, whereas the chess club will be deprived of its base.

V.M.Popov

Chairman of the Board Voronezh Writers' Organization

To: A.N.Vostroknutov Date: 11th September 2000 Vice-President of Chess Federation Voronezh region

Chess, as a game, develops mental faculties of anyone who has become keen on seemingly simple movements of traditional chess-men and pawns. This is one reason why this game has become so popular with the public at large in Russia, Another reason for its popularity has been its support by the state, since the game used to get people together around a chess-table, giving them the opportunity to socialize and to debate.

For people to get together, there should always be premises available. Nowadays, premises have become the object of struggle between commercial structures, since they have realized how much profit they could make by using this little piece of public property. Of course, a bureaucrat sees more benefits in handing over the premises to a rich owner, who pays all charges in due time, but who does not care about the public property, otherwise he/she would not dare to encroach on it.

Setting up a municipal chess club named after V.P.Zagorovsky on the available area at the following address: 34, ulitsa Fr.Rngelsa, Voronezh, is vital not only for our children and grandchildren, but for ourselves as well, so that we could remain what we are - people capable of thinking, having a good rest and falling into fantasies at chess-tables during a game and competition, thus defending the truth.

On behalf of chess-players

A.T.Kruk

General Director

ZAO "Tyazhmekhpress"