Banned pro-Putin chess star awarded state honor

Sergey Karjakin was presented with the award by Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin

Russian chess grandmaster Sergey Karjakin has been presented with the 'Order of Merit to the Fatherland' for his services to his country. Karjakin is currently banned from international competition by chess authority FIDE for his vocal stance in support of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the military campai