The FIDE Council has resolved to lift all existing restrictions previously imposed on the Belarus Chess Federation, effective immediately.
The decision follows the recommendation of the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), adopted at its meeting of 6–7 May 2026, which states that it no longer recommends any restrictions on the participation of Belarusian athletes, including teams, in competitions governed by International Federations and international sports event organisers. The IOC reaffirmed its position that athletes’ participation in international sport should not be limited by the actions of their governments.
In line with this recommendation, the FIDE Council resolved that all limitations previously applied to the Belarus Chess Federation are hereby removed.
As a result, Belarusian players and official teams will participate in FIDE competitions under the national flag of Belarus. The first major FIDE world events at which Belarus will compete under its national flag will be the FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities 2026 and the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026, both scheduled to take place in September in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.