Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin "won" the 2024 Venice Biennale, criticizing Russia's controversial return to the event. Giuli, who repeatedly denounced Russia's presence, told Corriere della Sera that Russian artists in the pavilion cannot express dissent against their regime. The Biennale faced widespread calls to remove Russia, with the EU threatening to withhold a €2 million grant, but organizers argued they lacked legal authority to exclude the country. Protests by Pussy Riot and FEMEN marked the pavilion's opening, while the Biennale's jury resigned en masse after announcing that nations charged with crimes against humanity would be ineligible for Golden Lions.
This controversy matters because it highlights the ongoing tension between cultural diplomacy and political accountability in major international art exhibitions. The Venice Biennale's inability to exclude Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine and international sanctions raises questions about the limits of institutional neutrality and the role of art in geopolitical conflicts. Giuli's comments also reflect broader Italian political divisions, as he later fired two senior aides amid disputes over funding a documentary about a murdered Italian student, further entangling art policy with domestic and international politics.