A letter obtained by Euronews was sent to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Cyprus’ Foreign Ministry as the current EU Council presidency, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and other officials.
Allowing Russia to return to the exhibition while Ukrainian cities are being bombed, civilians are killed, and cultural heritage is systematically destroyed is unacceptable, the signatories wrote.
Russia, a state under broad EU sanctions, should not be allowed to participate in an event funded by European taxpayers under any circumstances, the letter said.
Trust in the European Union would be undermined if Russia is allowed to take part in the 61st Venice Biennale, and EU leadership must take urgent and decisive action, the lawmakers said.
The lawmakers’ position reflects moral clarity and a principled stance, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said.
Ukraine is not advocating for banning culture or art, but pointing to inconsistency in the position of the exhibition’s organizers, Tykhyi said.
Russia plans to reopen its national pavilion at the Venice Biennale in May 2026 for the first time since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian cultural envoy Mikhail Shvydkoy said on March 3.
The exhibition’s organizers confirmed Russia’s return on March 4, stating that the Venice Biennale rejects any form of exclusion or censorship in culture and art.
Organizers should reconsider the decision to allow Russia’s participation, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Culture Minister Tetiana Berezhna said. Russia has systematically destroyed Ukrainian cultural heritage since 2014, violating international humanitarian law and the 1954 Hague Convention, they added.
Allowing Russia to return represents “a red carpet for dark cultural diplomacy,” Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said.
Governments of 22 European countries have signed a joint protest against Russia’s participation and submitted it to Venice Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco and Italy’s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli.
Russia’s participation was an autonomous decision by the Biennale Foundation despite the Italian government’s opposing position, Italy’s Culture Ministry said.
The Venice Biennale has provided all requested information to Italy’s Culture Ministry and stated that no rules were violated and that sanctions against Russia were fully respected.