Kasparov refuses to return to Russia Former chess champion and anti-Kremlin activist Gary Kasparov has declared he will not return to Russia. He fears he will be targeted in a wave of investigations into members of the opposition. Currently in Geneva receiving a human rights prize; Kasparov said, via an audio recording on his website, that if he returned to Moscow, he had "serious doubts" he may not be able to leave again. A prominent voice of opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kasparov, had previously been arrested for taking part in anti-government demonstrations. His announcement comes as 12 protesters who took part in an anti-Putin rally in June 2012 are due in court. The defendants are charged with mass disorder and violence against the police and could face up to eight years in jail. More about: Russia, Russian politics, Vladimir Putin