Statements by Boris Spassky's sister, Iraida Spasskaya, have shed new light on the recent interview with the 10th World Champion. According to Spasskaya the description of what happened is not accurate, and she worries about her brother's safety.

Boris Spassky at the 2008 Olympiad in Dresden

Last Friday we reported on a rather puzzling interview with Boris Spassky, in which the chess legend revealed that he "fled to Moscow" after having been "mistreated" in Paris and "kept in captivity". Admittedly, we weren't sure whether to report on it or not, because it raised more questions than answers. However, since it was obvious that Spassky had travelled to Moscow, and the interview was published by a well known newspaper, we went for it.

A letter by and interview with Spassky's sister, Iraida Spasskaya, gives quite a different version of what happened. She sent her letter to Sovetsky Sport, a daily sports newspaper, and was subsequently interviewed. The newspaper also spoke with some close friends of Spassky who told their version of what happened.

All of this was translated in full by Colin McGourty at WhyChess and his article is a must-read. Here's what Spasskaya wrote in her letter to Sovetsky Sport:

My brother undertook a journey that was unthinkable in his condition, exposing himself to constant danger. To my bitter regret I still have no information about where he is, although the family and I have been trying to get through to him. Yes, there’s a woman involved here – the instigator of the kidnapping and… However, in respect of how scrupulous my brother is I have to keep quiet. All I’d say is that on the 13th August I flew back from Paris, where I'd spent five days. I saw the happy smiles of my family and good friends, there were doctors and physiotherapists and three nurses cared for my brother. And then three days later he was gone…

No doubt we'll hear more about all this...

Update 12:21 CET: Things get even more complicated as Chess-News quotes Deputy Chairman of the Russian Chess Federation Veteran's Commitee, Rimma Bilunova. Apparently she said that Spassky's sister is wrong saying that Boris has been stolen from his house in Paris against his will.

Boris Spassky has always enjoyed to communicate with chess veterans and tried to take part in our events, Bilunova says, we supported him during his ilness, telephoned him, but after his jubilee it became impossible to talk to him. We hope he'll recover soon and we'll be glad to see him on our events again. It is clear that he travelled to Russia because he wanted to do so. There are people who can prove it.