Overview
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Monday the bloc intends to pull its roughly €2 million grant because the Biennale readmitted Russia.
- The Biennale will proceed with Russia’s first pavilion since 2022, with its president saying the exhibition stays open to everyone.
- Ukraine asked Italy and EU partners to deny visas to sanctioned Russian pavilion members, including commissioner Anastasia Karneeva, who has ties to state defense firm Rostec.
- Latvia and Finland said they will withhold official attendance at the May 9 opening if the Russian pavilion goes ahead.
- Pussy Riot launched a counter-exhibition, Resistance Imprisoned, which opened April 19 in Strasbourg to spotlight art by Russian political prisoners and challenge the official pavilion.