Twenty-two European ministers, led by Latvia's Minister of Culture Agnese Līce, have signed a joint letter calling for Russia to be barred from the 61st Venice Biennale. The ministers argue that Russia's planned participation, following its voluntary absence since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, would misuse a major cultural platform to legitimize military aggression and undermine international sanctions.
This petition places significant political pressure on the Biennale's leadership, forcing a decision with major diplomatic and ethical implications. The event's stance will signal how major cultural institutions navigate the intersection of art, politics, and war, potentially setting a precedent for the exclusion of nations engaged in active conflict. The ministers cite the moral responsibility articulated by artists who withdrew in 2022, framing the issue as one of complicity versus principle.