Former chess champion Garry Kasparov mocks his arrest in absentia by the Russians to the amusement of the Russian authorities.

Garry Kasparov was charged with espionage and terrorism.

Kasparov responded to his strange arrest: “Arrest in absentia is definitely the best way I’ve ever been arrested”, he said. “Good company, too. I’m sure we’re all equally honored that Putin’s terror state is spending time on what would otherwise be prosecutions and murders.”

In particular, the municipal court in Syktyvkar, the largest city in Russia’s northwestern Komi region, announced that it had arrested in absentia the international grandmaster along with former member of the Russian parliament Gennady Gudkov, Ivan Tyutrin co-founder of the Free Russia Forum – which has been described as “unwanted organization in the country, as well as former environmental activist Yevgenia Chirikova.

All were accused of forming a terrorist organization, according to the court’s press service. As all were charged in absentia, no one was taken into custody.

At the same time, the court accepted the proposals of the investigative bodies to remand Kasparov, Gudkov, Chirikova and Tutrin as a measure of limitation.