Ukraine Urges Venice Biennale to Reconsider Russia's Involvement

Official Appeal

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Minister of Culture Oleksandr Tkachenko have formally urged the Venice Biennale organizers to reject Russia's participation. Their statement reflects growing concerns about normalizing Russia's military actions amid ongoing conflict.

Cultural Destruction

The plea follows reports of Russia opening a national pavilion at the upcoming Biennale. Ukrainian officials highlighted that cultural losses have been extensive due to Russia's aggression. Since 2014, the destruction of cultural heritage sites in Ukraine has violated international humanitarian law, particularly the Hague Convention.

Since February 2022, Russia's full-scale invasion has led to the deaths of at least 346 artists and 132 media workers, including foreign nationals. Furthermore, Russian forces have damaged over 1,700 cultural heritage sites and more than 2,500 cultural infrastructure objects in Ukraine, with 558 completely destroyed.

Implications of Participation

Ukrainian leaders argue that allowing Russian representatives at international cultural events sends a troubling message about the legitimacy of the war. They recalled that on February 27, 2022, the Biennale organizers condemned Russia’s actions and expressed support for peace.

Background

Concerns

The current calls for Russian inclusion in the Biennale are seen as contradictory, given ongoing hostilities and Russia's refusal to engage in peaceful negotiations. Ukrainian officials noted that Russian culture is closely linked to the militaristic regime currently in power, raising questions about the nature of cultural representations.

Concerns also emerged about the appointed commissioner for the Russian pavilion, Anastasia Karneeva, and her ties to Russia's military-industrial complex. Such connections suggest that cultural narratives in Russia are often tied to state propaganda.

The Ukrainian government insists that the global arts community should adhere to values of freedom, human dignity, and international law, emphasizing solidarity with a culture under threat.