Mattarella Condemns Jorit's Selfie with Putin as Unauthentic Art

Italian President Sergio Mattarella, during a speech for International Women's Day 2024, criticized artists who pose with dictators, implicitly targeting street artist Jorit (Ciro Cerullo) who took a selfie with Vladimir Putin at the Sochi International Youth Forum. Mattarella stated that dictatorships promote fake state art and repress authentic artists. Jorit, known for his monumental murals with tribal red stripes, has painted works in Russia including a portrait of Dostoevsky in Naples (2022), Ornella Muti in Sochi, and a girl in Mariupol with Donetsk People's Republic colors. He has been accused of being a tool of Russian propaganda. MEP Pina Picierno requested EU sanctions against Jorit, while politicians Carlo Calenda and Federico Mollicone condemned his actions. Jorit defends himself as a free artist promoting peace and dialogue with Russia. Mattarella's remarks highlight the tension between artistic freedom and complicity with authoritarian regimes.