The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Culture of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha and Tetiana Berezhna, have called on the organizers of the Venice Biennale to prevent Russia’s participation in this year’s art forum. The corresponding joint statement was released on March 8 following reports of the possible return of the Russian delegation to the biennale for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Ukraine’s Appeal to the Biennale Organizers
In their statement, the Ukrainian ministers emphasized the need to maintain the principled position demonstrated by the organizers in 2022–2024, when Russia was excluded from participation. They stressed that adherence to the values of freedom, human dignity, and international law must remain defining for the global art community, and also called for solidarity with the Ukrainian people, whose culture is being targeted for destruction.
“We urge the organizers of the Venice Biennale to reconsider the decision regarding the return of the Russian Federation and to uphold the principled stance demonstrated in 2022–2024. Fidelity to the values of freedom, human dignity, and international law must be paramount for the global art community, just as solidarity with the Ukrainian people, whose culture is being attempted to be destroyed.”
The ministries emphasized that representatives of the Russian Federation should not participate in international art events, as since 2014, Russia has deliberately been destroying cultural heritage sites in Ukraine and violating norms of international humanitarian law. Since the onset of large-scale aggression in 2022, as noted in the statement, Russia has been waging a systematic war against Ukrainian culture, identity, and historical memory.
Criticism of the Organizers’ Decision and Ukraine’s Concerns
The Ukrainian agencies reminded that on February 27, 2022, shortly after the beginning of the full-scale aggression, the organizers of the biennale condemned Russia’s actions, calling for peace and dialogue. The statement expresses confusion over the change in the organizers’ position in light of Russia’s ongoing war, rejection of peace initiatives, and continued use of terror and destruction. Any changes in policy or easing of restrictions, according to the Ukrainian ministries, could be perceived as support for aggression, tolerance of war crimes, and an attempt to normalize the genocidal policies of the occupiers.
The statement also highlights that excluding Russia from international cultural platforms is critically important for maintaining their neutrality, avoiding politicization, and protecting the art sector from state propaganda of war.
Particular concern is raised regarding information about the connections of the commissioner of the Russian pavilion, Anastasia Karneeva, with the military-industrial complex of Russia, which, according to the Ukrainian side, indicates an inseparable link between culture in Russia and the regime of militarism.
It is worth noting that the organizers of the Venice Biennale announced on March 4 the admission of Russia to participate in the exhibition, which will run from May 9 to November 22, 2026. This decision has already sparked criticism, including from the Italian government.
The Venice Biennale is one of the most prestigious contemporary art exhibitions in the world. It has been held since 1895.