Video: Watson/Lucas Zollinger
May 7, 2026, 4:37 p.mMay 7, 2026, 4:37 p.m
The Biennale opens in Venice on Saturday. This time Russia also wants to take part in the renowned art exhibition that takes place every two years. It is the first time since the country began its war with Ukraine in 2022.
So-called preview days for experts are already taking place on the event site. These were abruptly interrupted on Wednesday morning when activists from the Russian group “Pussy Riot” and the Ukrainian group “Femen” marched in front of the Russian pavilion and loudly protested against Russia’s participation. We show you the pictures in the video:
Video: Watson/Lucas Zollinger
According to observers, the organizers of the Biennale let the activists have their way. There was also no visible reaction from the Russian pavilion, while pink, yellow and blue pyrotechnics were set off and punk rock was played outside.
The action had been announced for months
The feminist group Pussy Riot had already announced in March that it wanted to take action against Russia’s participation in the biennale. In a post the collective wrote at the time:
«We have a message for these bloodthirsty propagandists: Expect resistance. We want to express our full solidarity with Ukraine, the victims of Russian war crimes, Russian political prisoners and Ukrainian prisoners of war. Russia’s best citizens are in prison or killed for peaceful actions, while Europe opens the doors to Putin’s officials and propagandists.”
In doing so, they criticized the decision of Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco to allow Russia to take part again. The group described this as a “political decision by Italy”. «The president of the Biennale is appointed by the Italian government. The Russian pavilion is not an embassy, it is not a sovereign territory and has no diplomatic status. “Italy, the Venice authorities and the Biennale itself can say ‘no’ if they want,” the post says.
For the first time in several years, Putin’s Russia is returning to the Venice Biennale. Representatives of the Biennale say the decision does not depend on them — here is why that is not true…
The Biennale consists of the main international exhibition and national pavilions.… pic.twitter.com/LiUGMFBxP6
— 𝖕𝖚𝖘𝖘𝖞 𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖙 (@pussyrrriot) March 5, 2026
For Pussy Riot, official Russian participation is “a hard blow to Europe’s security.” “The Kremlin has long used culture as a continuation of foreign policy and to legitimize the regime abroad. “It is about the cultural expansion of imperial Russia into the heart of Europe,” it said.
EU also criticizes Biennale organizers
Several MEPs from different political groups also wrote an open letter to the Biennale, calling for the decision to be reversed. MEPs strongly condemn giving Russia a platform at one of the world’s most important cultural events while the country continues to wage war against Ukraine.
The European Union then announced that it would cancel a million-dollar subsidy for the Biennale, writes the mirror. According to the Financial Times, the EU also warned organizers that Russia’s participation could be seen as a violation of current war sanctions.
Controversy has an impact on the course of the Biennale
The whole controversy surrounding the participation of Russia and Israel is also noticeable in this year’s program of the renowned art event. The jury resigned because they did not want to take art from the two countries into account when awarding the prize.
Activists protest in front of the Biennale headquarters in Ca’ Giustinian in the San Marco district of Venice on July 7.Image: keystone
The opening ceremony was also canceled, as was the awarding of the Golden Lions, which are awarded at the beginning of the event. This year the prizes will only be awarded on the last day of the exhibition in November. Until then, it will no longer be decided by a jury but by the visitors who will receive these fees. (lzo)
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