Ukraine Condemns Venice Biennale's Decision to Include Russia
Ukraine has issued a strong appeal to the organisers of the prestigious Venice Biennale, urging them to reverse their decision to allow Russia to participate in the upcoming art exhibition. In a statement released on Sunday, Ukrainian officials argued that the event must not become "a stage for whitewashing the war crimes that Russia commits daily against the Ukrainian people and our cultural heritage."
Organisers' Controversial Stance
The Biennale organisers announced last week that Russia would be permitted to take part in the exhibition, scheduled to run from 9 May until 22 November. This move has sparked widespread criticism, including from Italy's own culture ministry, which has publicly opposed the decision. Andriy Sybiha, Ukraine's foreign minister, and Tetyana Berezhna, the culture minister, expressed their dismay, stating they found the Biennale's change of position "incomprehensible" given its previous condemnation of Russia's invasion.
In February 2022, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Biennale—one of Italy's most significant cultural institutions—condemned the aggression and banned access to that year's event for anyone linked to the Kremlin. Although Russia was never formally barred, it was absent from the exhibitions in both 2022 and 2024.
Impact on Ukrainian Culture
The Ukrainian ministers highlighted the devastating effects of the conflict on their nation's cultural landscape. According to their statement, Russia has waged a systematic war against Ukrainian culture, identity, and historical memory. This has resulted in the deaths of 346 artists and 132 Ukrainian and foreign journalists, the destruction or damage of over 1,700 cultural heritage sites, and the theft of more than 35,000 museum relics.
They called on the Biennale organisers to "maintain the principled position demonstrated in 2022-2024" and reconsider allowing Russia's return, emphasising that the Venice Biennale is one of the world's most authoritative art platforms.
Political and Cultural Backlash
The decision has also drawn criticism from European politicians. On Friday, a group of cross-party Members of the European Parliament published a letter condemning Russia's inclusion as "unacceptable," warning that it risks lending legitimacy to a regime responsible for ongoing violence and could damage the Biennale's reputation.
Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, the president of the Biennale Foundation since March 2024, defended the move in an interview with La Repubblica, saying he had invited people "from all areas of conflict to share their points of view." He added, "We believe that where there is art, there is dialogue." Buttafuoco was appointed by Gennaro Sangiuliano, a former culture minister in Giorgia Meloni's far-right government, which came to power in October 2022.
Italian Government's Position
The Italian culture ministry, now led by Alessandro Giuli, stated that the decision was made "entirely independently by the Biennale Foundation, despite the Italian government's opposition." Despite earlier friendly overtures towards Russia before taking office, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since assuming leadership.
Alongside Russia, artists from Ukraine, Belarus—a Russian ally that provided territory for the invasion—as well as Iran, Israel, and the United States will attend the Biennale, making it a highly politicised event in the global art scene.
