22 countries call for Russia's removal from the Venice Art Biennale

TALLINN – Estonian Minister of Culture Heidy Purga, along with the culture and foreign ministers of 21 other European countries, has made a joint appeal to Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, the director of the Venice Art Biennale, concerning Russia's participation in the international cultural event.

The appeal, initiated by Latvia, has been signed by ministers from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and Ukraine.

The ministers' joint statement emphasizes that the Venice Biennale is one of the world's most important platforms for artistic freedom and international cultural exchange. However, it also notes that in addition to their artistic importance, cultural institutions carry a moral responsibility.

Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine has caused extensive destruction to Ukraine's cultural life and heritage, inflicting irreparable damage on museums, historical sites, monuments, and other cultural institutions.

The letter also notes that both European and international sanctions against the Russian Federation remain in force. In this context, providing Russia with such a significant international cultural platform sends an extremely concerning message.

The ministers of the 22 countries consider Russia's participation in the Venice Biennale unacceptable and call for this decision to be reconsidered.

The joint letter was sent not only to Buttafuoco but also to the board of the Biennale and to the Italian Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli.

Additionally, the Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art is keeping the issue active among the commissioners of the Venice Biennale pavilions. Estonia has initiated a joint letter that was also addressed to the Biennale's governing bodies and the Italian Minister of Culture.