VENICE, Italy (AP) — Russian punk group Pussy Riot and members of the Ukrainian feminist organization FEMEN protested the opening of the Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale on Wednesday.
Yelling “Russia’s art is blood” and “Disobey” under a cloud of pink, blue and yellow smoke, the anti-Putin feminist groups covered their faces with pink balaclavas before rushing the venue in the Giardini exhibition area.
Italian police prevented the protesters from entering the pavilion, which was blockaded for about 30 minutes.
This marks Russia’s first participation in the international arts show since its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The European Union has slashed a 2-million-euro ($2.5-million) grant to the Biennale in protest.
Pussy Riot founder Nadya Tolokonnikova said the only Russian art that should be shown is by dissidents who are jailed “for mostly ridiculous charges.”
“Those people make art, and I want that art to represent Russia, because they represent the real face of Russia,’’ she said.
The jury that awards the prestigious Golden Lion prizes resigned last week in protest over the participation of Russia and Israel. It had said it would not award prizes to countries under investigation by the International Criminal Court for human rights abuses, effectively isolating the two countries.
Russia’s pavilion, which features a series of musical performances in a downstairs space, is scheduled to be open only for the first week of previews before the official opening of the Biennale on May 9.
Tolokonnikova said that efforts to contact the Biennale organizers had failed, and that to enter the Giardini venue, she had to use an assumed name to get through security.
The Biennale has defended Russia's participation, saying any country that has relations with Italy can be included. The Italian government has opposed the decision, while acknowledging the Biennale’s independence.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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