The Telegraph Corrects Error

Moscow, 27 May 2016 - Representatives of the UK newspaper The Telegraph have confirmed that President of the Russian Chess Federation and Vice-President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Andrey Filatov is not associated with Telecom Ltd Express, a company mentioned in the article Chess Drawn in the Panama Papers Scandal, and apologized for the error.

Earlier the online version of the newspaper published an article containing misleading information concerning the President of the Russian Chess Federation (Chess Drawn in the Panama Papers Scandal). Such information was published with reference to the Mossack Fonseca database. The Telegraph has made appropriate changes to the publication, and noted that «we are happy to clarify the situation and apologize for the error».

Russian Chess Federation President Andrey Filatov thanked The Telegraph for the prompt response.

«We are very grateful to London-based journalists for their willingness to cooperate and establish the truth. I am convinced that fact-checking is one of the basic principles of professional journalism», said Andrey Filatov.

The head of the Russian Chess Federation also extended his gratitude to the lawyers of the international law firm Quinn Emanuel, who legally represented the Russian Chess Federation, for their prompt and professional work.

QUINN EMANUEL TO REPRESENT THE RCF

Moscow, 16 May 2016 – The international law firm Quinn Emanuel will represent the interests of the Russian Chess Federation (the – “RCF”) in connection with publication of the false information about the RCF President Andrey Filatov. The engagement agreement has been signed today.

On May 10, The Telegraph and a number of other media published articles containing false information about activities of the RCF President (e.g., Telegraph article under the title “Chess Drawn into Panama Papers Scandal”). The false information referring to the Mossack Fonseca database has been published in the media without proper verification of its accuracy.

«I am grateful to Quinn Emanuel for the prompt response to our request and consider it necessary to establish this legal precedent, - says the RCF President Andrey Filatov. - As subjects of law, mass media are responsible for the accuracy of their publications, and are not entitled to infringe on anyone's rights or business reputation. The media should act in strict accordance with the law and refrain from informational arbitrariness. Any information that goes to press requires fact checking and a legal sign-off, even that being published in pursuit of the voguish Panamagate sensationalism.»

Quinn Emanuel has begun to examine the matter with a view to taking legal actions against disseminators of the misleading information.

The Russian Chess Federation President Mr. Filatov intends to use all legal means available to him to defend his rights, interests and business reputation. The Russian Chess Federation warns that any attempt to further disseminate the above misleading information will have legal consequences.

RUSSIAN CHESS FEDERATION OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Moscow, 10 May 2016 - The Russian Chess Federation expresses its concern about publication in The Telegraph and a number of other media of misleading information about the activities of the President of the Russian Chess Federation.

The aforementioned misleading information has been published in mass media with reference to the Mossack Fonseca archive, which in reality does not contain any information on the activities of the President of the Russian Chess Federation, or the companies he controls. While publishing the misleading information, representatives of the media in question have not taken any action to verify the published misleading information.

The Russian Chess Federation has contacted an international law firm whose experts are currently reviewing the situation and considering legal action to hold disseminators of the misleading information liable.

The Russian Chess Federation President Mr. Filatov intends to use all legal actions available to him to defend his rights, interests and business reputation. The Russian Chess Federation warns that any attempt at further dissemination of the above misleading information will have legal consequences.

Russian Chess Federation (RCF) is a public non-profit organisation that brings together individuals and chess federation of republics, territories, regions, federal cities, autonomous regions and autonomous areas of the Russian Federation. RCF activities are aimed at the development and popularisation of chess in the Russian Federation. RCF was established on February 15, 1992. The management bodies of the Russian Chess Federation are the Congress and the Supervisory Board of the Russian Chess Federation. The Board of Trustees of the Russian Chess Federation is a collegial advisory and consultative body, acting on a voluntary basis.

RCF organises the annual nationwide White Castle Children’s Chess Tournament for Schools, the Russian Chess Championship and numerous other chess competitions. The Federation’s Chess in Museums initiative has been running successfully in Russia since 2012.

RCF initiates and implements chess development programmes, including those targeting children, and promotes expansion of the network of chess clubs and sections in the regions. RCF manages individual and team competitions in Russia, organises participation of Russian players in international competitions, promotes Russian chess in the international arena, and develops sporting links with national chess federations, national and international organizations, including FIDE.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP is the largest law firm in the world that specializes in litigation and arbitration. Its lawyers have tried or arbitrated more than 2,500 cases in their careers and have won 88 %. The respected legal news outlet Law 360 included Quinn Emanuel into the list of "hugely successful firms that consistently strike fear into the hearts of defense counsel." Drawing on the interviews with law department heads of 300 companies with an average annual turnover of $14 billion, Quinn Emanuel has been selected as one of the firms with "take-no-prisoners attitude" and "relentless approach to high-stakes litigation and a knack for building legal teams that go for the jugular". The firm is also distinguished on account of its penchant for suing the largest banks and other financial institutions having earned a reputation of "threat to the banks".