The Italian culture minister Alessandro Giuli has said in a statement from the Ministry of Culture that he will not attend the Venice Biennale opening next week, in protest of Russia’s involvement in the art exhibition.
Russia has been absent from the Venice Biennale since 2022, but on its own volition. It has a permanent exhibition space in the Giardini, so it is unclear how much power the Biennale Foundation has to deny it access to the building. Russia’s return to the upcoming edition has been met with widespread consternation.
In March this year, 22 European ministers signed a letter expressing their concern over Russia’s return to the Biennale for the first time since its fullscale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The letter called Russia’s participation in the Biennale ‘unacceptable under the current circumstances’.
Last week, the European Union cut its €2 million (£1.74m) grant to the Venice Biennale following the return of Russia to the exhibition.
The following day, the jurors for the Golden and Silver Lion awards said they will not consider the pavilions of any country whose leaders are currently charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court – which effectively rules out Russia, where Vladimir Putin is charged with the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children.
Read next The Politics of Russia’s Return to the Venice Biennale
