In the Russian Federation, the association of players in “What? Where? When?” is recognized as undesirable.

Photo: Prosecutor General's Office in Moscow

The Prosecutor General's Office has recognized the International Association of Intellectual Games (IAIS), registered in Liechtenstein, as an organization whose activities are undesirable in Russia.

This organization, according to its data, unites more than 200 participants in the sports versions of the popular intellectual games “What? Where? When?”, “Brain Ring” and “Own Game” all over the world, including in Russia, “Radio Liberty” reports.

The Prosecutor General's Office stylized the announcement of recognizing the organization as undesirable in its Telegram channel as a question from the game “What? Where? When?”. "Attention, correct answer. The activities of the international club Internationale Assoziation für Intellektuelle Spiele, which actively supports foreign agents and disseminates information online aimed at discrediting the Russian leadership, have been deemed undesirable in our country," the agency reports.

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The website of the Prosecutor General's Office explains that the association is allegedly "involved in propaganda campaigns initiated by foreign anti-Russian centers aimed at promoting protest and destructive ideas in Russia".

It is also accused of the fact that "teams from Russia and Belarus are prohibited from competing under the national flags of their countries at international tournaments", but "foreign agents, as well as members of foreign non-governmental organizations whose activities are recognized as undesirable", continue to take part in the events..

The Association was founded in 2021 by members of the intellectual movement (“experts”), dissatisfied with the policies of the leadership of the International Association of Clubs (IAC) of the ChGK, including its close ties with the Russian Channel One. The Association holds various tournaments in intellectual games in different countries. It also announced its intention to hold a world championship, but only after the end of the war in Ukraine.

Recognizing the organization as undesirable (formally, the Ministry of Justice must add it to the list) means a ban on its activities in Russia. Russian authorities view cooperation with such an organization, including abroad, as an offense or a crime.

Prepared by: Sergey Daga