Dear Evgeny Stepanovich! I heartily congratulate you on your birthday! You tirelessly cared about the development of the region, holding the post of Governor of the Belgorod Oblast for more than twenty years.
I sincerely admire your fruitful and selfless work. Much of what the Belgorod citizens are proud of today has become possible thanks to your bold political decisions and their skilful and unswerving implementation.
I am glad that our joint projects dedicated to the popularization of chess have been realized. I am proud of my acquaintance with you! Dear Evgeny Stepanovich, please accept my warmest congratulations. I wish you good health, optimism and inexhaustible energy.
President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE)
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
