The representatives of 22 states urged the organisers of the exhibition not to grant Russia a cultural platform. It is the first time that Russia has tried to get back to the event since 2022.
The Venice Biennale is also pressured by ministers of 22 countries to change its stance on including Russia in the global art show. They feel that giving Russia an international cultural stage is a very ominous message to send. According to UNN, this was announced on the site of the Ministry of Culture of Latvia.
Cultural and foreign affairs ministers underline the fact that the decision to provide Russia with a high-profile international cultural stage in the middle of the war against Ukraine sends a warning message to the whole cultural community.
The letter pointed out that Ukraine and its cultural life and heritage are being systematically destroyed as a result of the war by Russia. Moreover, Russia is still a target of European and international sanctions, including in the cultural domain, because of the breach of international law and the sovereignty of Ukraine.
The representatives of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Sweden, and Ukraine signed the statement.
The letter is written to the President of the Venice Biennale, Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, the Board of Directors of the exhibition, and the Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, of Italy.
The fact that Russia is not to be returned to the Venice Biennale has already been called on by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.
A Russian pavilion will be opened in the 61 st festival (May 9 – November 22, 2026). This will be the first time that Russia will take part in the exhibition since the beginning of the full-scale war against Ukraine.
In 2022, the Russian pavilion at the art fair was closed due to the complete invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and Russian artists and institutions were excluded from significant cultural events in Europe.
