Italian Culture Minister Demands Resignation Over Russian Pavilion's Venice Biennale Return

Italy's culture minister, Alessandro Giuli, has called for the resignation of Tamara Gregoretti, the government's representative on the Venice Biennale board, following Russia's announcement that it will reopen its national pavilion at the 2026 exhibition. Giuli stated he lost confidence in Gregoretti for failing to inform the ministry about Russia's potential participation, despite the international sensitivity surrounding the issue. The controversy began last week when Russia revealed plans to return to the Biennale for the first time since 2019, with a presentation titled 'The Tree Is Rooted in the Sky,' curated by Anastasia Karneeva and featuring over 30 artists. La Biennale di Venezia defended the decision, emphasizing its commitment to avoiding exclusion or censorship and maintaining the event as a space for dialogue and artistic freedom. The move has sparked widespread criticism across Europe, with 22 European culture ministers signing a letter urging Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco to reconsider, warning that Russia's participation could normalize its actions amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. European Union officials, including technology commissioner Henna Virkkunen and culture commissioner Glenn Micallef, have warned that the decision could jeopardize approximately €2 million in EU funding, deeming it incompatible with the EU's response to Russia's aggression. An online petition titled 'Stop the Normalisation of War Crimes Through Art' has gathered over 8,000 signatures, reflecting opposition from the cultural sector. Italian media reports indicate Gregoretti has not shown any intention to step down, while the culture ministry has requested urgent clarification from the Biennale regarding the installation and management of the Russian pavilion in light of current sanctions.