Ukraine urges Venice Biennale to reconsider decision on Russia's participation

Ukraine has called on the organisers of the Venice Biennale to reconsider their decision on Russia's participation and to maintain the principled position demonstrated in 2022-2024.

Source: a joint statement by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Tetiana Berezhna, Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Sybiha and Berezhna described the admission of Russian representatives to international art events as unacceptable. They recalled that on 27 February 2022, three days after the start of Russia's full-scale aggression, the Biennale's organisers condemned the aggression and expressed support for peace and dialogue.

Quote: "It is unclear to us why the organisers' position is changing now, when Russia refuses to end the war, rejects peace efforts and dialogue, and instead continues to rely on terror and atrocities. Under such conditions, any policy changes or easing of restrictions have no real grounds and can only send a dangerous signal of support for aggression."

Details: The ministers stressed that excluding Russia from international cultural platforms is critically important for preserving their neutrality, avoiding politicisation and protecting the cultural sphere from state war propaganda.

They said they are particularly concerned by reports linking Anastasia Karneyeva, the declared commissioner of the Russian pavilion, to the Russian military-industrial complex, which once again underscores that in Russia, culture is inseparable from the militaristic regime.

Quote: "We call on the organisers of the Venice Biennale to reconsider the decision on the return of the Russian Federation and to maintain the principled position demonstrated in 2022-2024. Commitment to the values of freedom, human dignity and international law must remain decisive for the global artistic community, just as solidarity with the Ukrainian people whose culture is being targeted for destruction."

Background:

• Earlier, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže condemned the decision of the Venice Biennale to allow Russia to reopen its pavilion.
• Russia will reopen its pavilion and take part in the Venice Biennale this year for the first time since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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