Russia Reaffirms Cultural Presence at Venice Biennale

(MENAFN) Russia is taking part in the Venice Biennale "despite the dictates and pressure from the EU," and as an indication of its willingness to communicate through the medium of culture and art, while pursuing normal, respectful, and equal dialogue, Russian Ambassador to Italy Alexey Paramonov stated on Wednesday.

Addressing the debate surrounding Russia’s involvement in the international exhibition, Paramonov wrote on Telegram that Moscow’s participation in the Biennale serves as proof of its continued intention to maintain communication with Italy using cultural and artistic channels.

"It is a great pity that the leadership of Italy, as well as the directorate of the Venice Biennale, have become objects of unacceptable, crude dictates and pressure from the EU, whose faceless grey bureaucrats have been doing everything in recent years to lower the Iron Curtain on their side," he said.

Paramonov also condemned efforts aimed at blocking "any cultural, educational, and scientific exchanges between EU countries and Russia," pointing out that, due to sanctions, Russia’s full-scale presentation in the Lagoon will be limited to four days as a preview, after which it will only be available to audiences in video format.

He further noted that Russia was among the earliest supporters of initiatives led by Riccardo Selvatico, who served as mayor of Venice from 1890 to 1895, to found the Venice Biennale, and that it established its own pavilion in the Giardini Gardens in 1914.

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