Caissa, the goddess of chess, had punished me for my conservative play, for betraying my nature. - Garry Kasparov

Russia’s election spectacle on March 18 isn’t only a domestic distraction. It provides Putin’s defenders in the free world with rhetorical ammunition, as do the approval polls and fake controversies over the fake opposition candidates. There is no form of democratic process or opposition in Putin’s Russia. Pretending otherwise makes you complicit in his propaganda. Stop calling them elections. Stop calling Putin a president. Stop calling to congratulate him on his victories. Let us begin the fight against Putin’s lies with the fundamental truth about what he really is.

In chess, bigamy is acceptable but monarchy is absolute.

Great leaders are formed only by taking on great challenges.