Garry Kasparov advocates for political change.
Garry Kimovich Kasparov ( Га́рри Ки́мович Каспа́ров , [ ˈɡarʲɪ ˈkʲiməvʲɪtɕ kɐˈsparəf ] ; born Garik Kimovich Weinstein , 13 April 1963 ) is a Russian chess grandmaster , former World Chess Champion , writer , and political activist , whom many consider to be the greatest chess player of all time . Although he is widely regarded in the West as a symbol of opposition to Putin , he was barred from the presidential ballot , as the political climate in Russia makes it difficult for opposition candidates to organize .