US EditionAhead of Venice Biennale, Ukraine Pushing EU to Impose Visa Bans on Russian Pavilion Members
Ukraine says 5 Russian pavilion participants were sanctioned and seeks EU visa bans as 37 lawmakers urge funding cuts for the Biennale.
- On Tuesday, April 21, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged the European Union to impose visa bans on Russian Pavilion participants ahead of the Venice Biennale, stating, "We are now raising the issue to ensure they are not granted visas."
- Ukraine sanctioned five Russian Pavilion participants on April 10, including commissioner Anastasia Karneeva, citing ties to Russia's defense sector and the Kremlin's direct control over the pavilion since 2021.
- EU diplomat Kaja Kallas declared Russian participation "morally wrong" on April 21, while 37 Members of the European Parliament urged the European Union to suspend funding for the Venice Biennale.
- Italy's Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli demanded the resignation of board member Tamara Gregoretti over communication failures, though the Venice Biennale defended its compliance with sanctions.
- Leading a collective stance shared by 25 European nations, Latvian Minister of Culture Agnese La e announced she will boycott the May 9 opening if Russia participates.
13 Articles
13 Articles
While peace talks in Ukraine have temporarily stalled as the international community's attention is focused on the war in Iran, Russia and the European Union (EU) are clashing head-on over participation in the Venice Biennale, the most prestigious event in the arts and culture world. The Venice Biennale, which began in 1895, is the world's most authoritative contemporary art event. It is known in the art world as the "Art Olympics." The event fe…
The European Union is cutting funding for the Venice Art Biennale because its organizers decided to allow Russia to participate in the exhibition, said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Latvia Calls for Russia’s Exclusion from the Venice Biennale 2026
Latvia has called for the exclusion of Russia from the Venice Biennale 2026, raising concerns over its participation in the international art exhibition and urging European Union-level consideration of the issue. The request was presented by Latvia’s State Secretary for Foreign Affairs during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. Artjoms Uršuļskis argued that allowing Russian participation could risk “normalising” the situation in Kie…
I appeal to the Foreign Ministers: "We need a common position" . Matteo Salvini: "Enough with the threats, those who hate the people worry me."After the unofficial protests also came the official ones: the case of the Venice Biennale and the Russian Pavilion - the same Russia that in 2025 was for Europe the second supplier of liquefied natural gas after the United States despite the sanctions - has also arrived at the Council of the European Uni…
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister expressed hope that Kiev's request will be heard.
Ahead of Venice Biennale, Ukraine pushing EU to impose visa bans on Russian pavilion members
“We have imposed sanctions on those individuals, the Russian participants. And we are now raising the issue to ensure they are not granted visas. We very much hope that we will be heard... and expect that visas will not be issued," Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
