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The effort to return russia to participation in the Venice Biennale is being led by the FSB and the russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The governments of Italy and the EU have spoken out against it, but this has not stopped the organizers from continuing to push for russia’s involvement in this European festival, writes Ukrainian journalist and MP Mykola Kniazhytskyi.
russia views the opening of its pavilion at the Biennale as another special operation in Europe. The FSB’s well-known “soft power” is intended to show Europeans that russia is not an outcast, and that mass killings, destruction, and the abduction of children can be masked under the slogan “art above politics.”
The organization of russia’s participation in the Biennale is being handled by the russian company Smart Art, which has two owners. The first is Anastasia Karneeva, daughter of FSB Colonel-General Nikolai Volobuev, who is under personal sanctions from the US and EU. The second owner is Ekaterina Vinokurova, daughter of Sergei Lavrov, russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In other words, the task of convincing Europeans that “real russian culture is above politics” falls to the children of Sergei Lavrov and FSB general. At a time when the kremlin itself calls Europe its main enemy and threatens to turn European cities into “radioactive ash,” the opening of a russian pavilion in Europe is not just ill-advised, but literally dangerous.
It is no secret that all of putin’s actions today are united by a single goal: the destruction of Ukraine. Since Ukraine’s ability to resist depends directly on European support, sowing division among Europeans regarding their attitude toward russia is a real military task capable of influencing the course of the war. Meanwhile, the Italian government has condemned russia’s admission to the Biennale, the foreign ministries of 20 European countries have issued a joint statement, and the European Commission has canceled subsidies for the Biennale for the next three years.
The russian special operation has not yet completely failed, as the invitation to the Biennale has not been revoked. However, the demonstrated solidarity of Europeans on this issue once again underscores their unwavering course toward isolating russia and countering kremlin influence operations.
russian culture in the hands of the Chekists is not art, but merely another tool for dismantling Europe’s independence from kremlin pensioners. Until Europe realizes that every step toward “dialogue” with killers is a step toward self-destruction, kremlin special operations will continue to undermine the foundations of a free Europe.
