Former world chess champion turned human rights activitist Garry Kasparov has criticised the heavyweight delegation the Netherlands is sending to the winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Speaking during the Tata chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Kasparov said politicians should not attend the opening ceremony of the games.

‘The only thing Putin wants is a nice picture in which he is surrounded by as many world leaders as possible,’ Kasparov is quoted as saying.

The Netherlands is sending the prime minister, sports minister, king and queen to Sochi and has been criticised by politicians and gay rights activitists for taking such a ‘heavyweight’ approach. Many western leaders are staying away because of Putin’s human rights record.