seen<\/a><\/strong> by the Financial Times, Brussels said including Russia\u2019s national pavilion\u2014owned by the Russian government\u2014could violate restrictions on \u201cproviding services\u201d to the Kremlin.<\/p>\n\u201cBy not respecting EU sanctions, Biennale has called into question its obligation to ensure respect of EU values,\u201d the Commission\u2019s culture agency wrote. In a separate letter to the Italian government, it added that \u201cany cost that Russia is covering to enable the Russian delegation of artists to participate at the biennale benefits the biennale, and appears to qualify as indirect provision of economic support.\u201d<\/p>\n
The move by Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco to allow Russia to exhibit for the first time since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine has put Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni\u2019s government under pressure. Kyiv said the event \u201cmust not become a stage for whitewashing the war crimes that Russia commits daily against the Ukrainian people and our cultural heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Commission has requested \u201cclarifications on the arrangements between the biennale and the Russian government\u201d and set a 30-day deadline for a response. A spokesperson said EU-funded cultural events must uphold democratic values \u201cnot respected in today\u2019s Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brussels had already threatened in March to withdraw a \u20ac2 million grant, calling the decision \u201cnot compatible with the EU\u2019s collective response.\u201d<\/p>\n
The biennale said it had complied with all regulations, while Buttafuoco defended the decision on free speech grounds. Meloni said she disagreed but stressed the foundation\u2019s autonomy: \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have made this decision in his place.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Russian pavilion, operated by Smart Art, will be open only to invited guests during previews and closed to the public once the exhibition officially opens.<\/p>\n
By Tamilla Hasanova<\/p>\n
Caliber.Az<\/b><\/p>\n
Read more about the key topics in this news story.<\/p>\n
Views: 61<\/b><\/p>\n
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