Tornike Rizhvadze, Chairman of Adjara Autonomous Republic’s Government gave a map of Georgia to the Russian delegation as present during the closing ceremony of World Chess Olympiad in Batumi city.

Rizhvadze said that Georgia was the country of Vazha Pshavela (well-known writer) where guests were respected. “The mistake of designers will not put at question Georgia’s territorial integrity. This mistake has to be corrected. This is a map of Georgia and Georgia’s history,” Rizhvadze said. The statement of Chairman of Adjara government was followed by applause in the hall.

The Georgian Chess Federation released a statement on October 5 which said that the Congress was held within the framework of Batumi Chess Olympiad where the World Chess Federation (FIDE) was elected. The Congress was attended by the Russian delegation. Volunteers of the Olympiad were distributed souvenirs with a miniature map in it where Georgia was presented without Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The volunteers informed Organizational Committee about the fact. The Committee removed the map from presents. “The Georgian Chess Federation finds it unacceptable to bring political elements to the sports activity especially when it has to do with infringement of Georgia’s territorial integrity and state sovereignty,” read the statement.