Russia Says Venice Biennale Participation Defies EU Pressure

(MENAFN) Russia’s ambassador to Italy, Alexey Paramonov, said Wednesday that Russia’s participation in the Venice Biennale continues “despite the dictates and pressure from the EU,” framing the country’s presence at the international art exhibition as a cultural and diplomatic statement, according to reports.

As stated by reports, Paramonov argued that Moscow’s involvement reflects its willingness to engage through “the language of culture and art” and maintain what he described as normal, respectful, and equal dialogue.

Commenting via Telegram, he also criticized what he described as external pressure on Italian institutions and the Biennale’s organizers, claiming that EU influence had created restrictions around Russia’s participation.

"It is a great pity that the leadership of Italy, as well as the directorate of the Venice Biennale, have become objects of unacceptable, crude dictates and pressure from the EU, whose faceless grey bureaucrats have been doing everything in recent years to lower the Iron Curtain on their side," he said.

Paramonov further said efforts to limit cultural and academic exchanges between Russia and EU countries were harmful, noting that sanctions have affected the scale and format of Russia’s presence at the event.

According to reports, Russia’s full exhibition at the Biennale will run for only four days as a preview, after which it will be available to visitors solely in video format.

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