The Justice Ministry rejected former chess champion Bobby Fischer's request for protection as a political refugee Tuesday and issued an order to deport him.
Fischer, detained since July 13 for attempting to travel on an invalid U.S. passport, quickly appealed the decision, and his supporters said he would not be deported immediately.
The former chess great is wanted in the United States for violating international sanctions against the former Yugoslavia in 1992, though he claims that the charges against him are politically motivated.