Ukraine demands Russia's exclusion from Venice Biennale

The Ukrainian government has formally demanded the exclusion of Russia from the 61st Venice Biennale Arte, following the Italian Ministry of Culture's decision to allow Russian participation. In a joint statement, Ukrainian Culture Minister Tetyana Berezhna and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned Russia's presence as unacceptable, accusing it of using cultural platforms to whitewash war crimes. The letter details Russia's systematic destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage since 2014, including 1,707 damaged cultural sites, 2,503 cultural infrastructure facilities (558 completely destroyed), and the illegal seizure of at least 35,482 museum artifacts. It also notes that 346 artists and 132 media professionals have been killed since 2022, with direct cultural sector damages exceeding $4.2 billion and total losses estimated at over $31 billion. The ministers link current Russian aggression to historical policies of the Russian Empire and USSR aimed at erasing Ukrainian identity. They specifically criticize the appointment of Anastasia Karneeva as Russian Pavilion Commissioner, citing her ties to the military-industrial complex. The letter urges Biennale organizers to reverse their decision and maintain the exclusion policy upheld from 2022 to 2024, warning that any relaxation sends a dangerous signal of support for aggression. The protest echoes actions planned by Pussy Riot during the Biennale.