The commissioners warned that if Russia is allowed to participate, they “will examine further action, including the suspension or termination of an ongoing EU grant to the Biennale Foundation,” which organizes the event.
Italy’s Ministry of Culture said it opposed the festival’s decision, which was celebrated by Mikhail Shvydkoy, the Kremlin’s special representative for international cultural cooperation, as “proof that Russian culture is not isolated.”
Moscow has sought to use art, culture and sport as soft-power tools to end its diplomatic isolation on the world stage. Ukraine has called on European and other countries to maintain boycotts against Russian cultural figures and institutions.
Martina Sapio contributed to this report.