FIDE Election Raises Questions About Vadim Rosenstein’s Efforts to Leave His Russian Past Behind

As Vadim Rosenstein campaigns to lead the International Chess Federation, his public profile increasingly emphasizes international business and separation from Russia.

The records described in the original investigation, however, tell a more complicated story

Rosenstein’s Russian company VR Rus LLC has continued operations and recorded substantial growth since 2022.

The business is 95.94% owned by Germany-based WR Group Holding GmbH, while Rosenstein himself controls 4.06%.

Its audited financial results for 2025 show sales increasing 2.4 times.

Revenue at the Russian subsidiary has risen several-fold since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Customs declarations reveal some of the transactions behind its activity

In February 2025, VR Rus imported around 900 pairs of Anastasia Zadorina-brand shoes from Italy into Russia.

The shipment was valued at approximately $560,000.

Zadorina officially presented her new footwear line several months later.

According to Russian media cited in the original article, the products were manufactured at an Italian factory working with international fashion brands.

Zadorina’s relationship with Russia’s security establishment makes the shipment notable

She is the daughter of FSB Colonel General Mikhail Shekin.

Shekin has long worked in an area associated with procurement at the security service and also heads the Dynamo volleyball club.

The Insider reported in 2022 that Shekin controlled expensive assets worth more than RUB 2 billion.

His daughter has her own ties to Dynamo through ZASPORT.

The sportswear company, jointly owned with the organization, became an official supplier of uniforms for Russian Olympic athletes in 2017.

According to Proekt, this agreement was ended prematurely in 2025

Zadorina’s public record also includes political campaigns.

After Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014 and Western governments introduced sanctions, she launched the anti-sanctions initiative “Fashionable Response.”

Following the beginning of the 2022 invasion, she registered another business in Crimea.

Vinnaya Istoriya LLC was reportedly intended to develop wine production and vineyards on the peninsula.

The ownership structure is now concealed through a closed-end investment fund.

The company reported a RUB 27.5 million loss in 2025

Zadorina has meanwhile been linked through business to several other prominent Russian figures.

Proekt reported that she held shares in Baikal Corporation with Olga Zolotova, daughter-in-law of Viktor Zolotov.

She also co-owns Costa, which controls hunting territory in the Yaroslavl Region, with senior VTB executive Andrey Kostin.

In 2019, Zadorina received income from Russian Electronics, part of Rostec.

Rostec is headed by Sergey Chemezov

The source notes that Chemezov, Vladimir Putin and Mikhail Shekin were all present in East Germany during the late Soviet era through connections with the KGB.

Another important relationship developed in 2024, when Zadorina married Kirill Shamalov.

Shamalov is Putin’s former son-in-law

Important Stories reported that his previous marriage to Katerina Tikhonova played an important role in his rapid rise to billionaire status.

Shamalov became vice president of SIBUR at 26.

In 2014, he acquired 17% of SIBUR from Gennady Timchenko after the billionaire was placed under U.S. sanctions.

Shamalov joined the U.S. sanctions list in 2018 and has since 2022 faced restrictions from several other countries and jurisdictions.

Rosenstein’s companies have had their own relationship with SIBUR.

WR Logistics GmbH and WR Certification GmbH supplied industrial products to Tomskneftekhim, a SIBUR subsidiary.

Kirill Shamalov’s father Nikolai is additionally a co-owner of Bank Rossiya

These connections would be less politically relevant if Rosenstein’s Russian operations had been winding down.

Instead, the financial data cited in the investigation show expansion.

VR Rus recorded sharply rising sales in 2025, while its revenue has increased significantly since 2022.

A second business associated with Rosenstein’s family followed an even more dramatic trajectory.

2R Integra LLC, controlled by his cousin Mikhail Rosenstein, reportedly increased its revenue by dozens of times after the war began.

According to ImportGenius, it brought almost $800,000 worth of sanctioned goods into Russia

The source says the company also advertised ways to circumvent export restrictions on its website before deleting the relevant information following press reports.

As the FIDE election approaches, Rosenstein has reportedly taken steps to reduce public visibility of Russia in his corporate history.

Mentions of the country have disappeared from WR Group and subsidiary websites.

After reporting raised questions about German company Glotech GmbH and possible shipments of restricted telecom products to Russia, Rosenstein also deleted an X post concerning a partnership with Glotech to support chess players in Germany.

These changes have made the contrast between Rosenstein’s public image and the documented business history a central element of the controversy surrounding his campaign.

The debate is unfolding during a wider deterioration in relations between Russia and Europe

Germany has accused Moscow of organizing an attempted attack on a Ukrainian An-124 aircraft at Leipzig airport and has promised additional sanctions.

The EU and NATO supported the German position

A separate attack on September 1 temporarily disrupted 4.2 GW of power generation at RWE facilities in the Rhine region.

The Telegraph has described a broader pattern of Russian hybrid activity in Europe, including sabotage and the recruitment of criminals.

European authorities are considering a substantial new sanctions package in response

According to Kaja Kallas, preparations are already underway.

The proposal could place around 800 individuals and 800 organizations under restrictions .

If agreed by all EU governments, it could become one of the largest single expansions of sanctions against Russia.

For Rosenstein, this environment puts greater attention on whether his business interests truly match the image of separation from Russia that he is attempting to present during the FIDE presidential campaign.

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Adam Regan: Deputy Editor

Features and account management. 7 years media experience. Previously covered features for online and print editions.

Email Adam@MarkMeets.com