Biennale, Russian ambassador against the EU: 'Italia subject to diktats and pressure'

The controversy over Russia's participation in the Venice Biennale continues: the country is present not because it was formally invited but because it has its own pavilion and opened it despite the lack of an invitation. Russia's presence at the event has been opposed by the EU (the European Commission has initiated the procedure to suspend some 2 million euro intended for the Biennale) and several European governments. Even the Italia government was critical, with the exception of the minister Matteo Salvini; the Ministry of Culture sent inspectors to Ca' Giustinian. Then came the resignation of the International Jury, and the official ceremony on the day of the opening, 9 May, to which the Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli had already forfeited, was cancelled.

The Russian ambassador to Italia spoke today. "There is something really morbid and irrational in the EU's obsession with persecuting Russian culture and art through sanctions and all sorts of restrictions". Thus on Facebook Russia's ambassador to Italia A.V. Paramonov, who opened the Russian pavilion at the Biennale today. "It is very regrettable that the Italian leadership, as well as the Biennale management, have become the target of unacceptable and brutal diktats and pressure from the EU whose grey, faceless bureaucrats have done everything to lower the 'iron curtain' and prevent any exchange between EU countries and Russia."

"We are well aware," he says, "that most people of common sense in Italia do not share this approach and do not intend to sever the centuries-old cultural ties with Russia, one of whose symbols is the Russian pavilion in the Lagoon. And they certainly would not agree with the absurd claim that the presence of more than 50 young Russian musicians, philosophers and poets, as well as representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Italia, Mali, Mexico and the United States participating in our project, represents a blow to western unity and, in fact, its defeat'.

"Our presence at the Biennale only demonstrates Russia's willingness, like that of many other countries, to continue to communicate with Italia not through coercion and dictatorship, but in the language of culture and art, to conduct a normal, mutually respectful and equal dialogue". "Our presence in the Lagoon represents the natural continuation of the tradition of cultural ties with Italia. Russia was one of the first countries to support the initiative of Riccardo Selvatico, mayor of Venice from 1890 to 1895, to establish the Venice Biennale and built its own pavilion in the Giardini in 1914, designed by the world-famous architect A.V. Shchusev''.

"Unfortunately, due to sanctions," Paramonov continued, "the complete Russian staging in the Lagoon will only last for four days of previews. Thereafter, from 9 May to 22 November, it will only be available to the public in video format'. The diplomat spoke about the work: "The project presented by the collective, 'Tree Rooted in the Sky', fits perfectly into the overall concept of the current edition of the Venice Biennale, 'In Minor Tones', with its emphasis on the themes of inclusion and exclusion and the 'right to speak', proposed by Cameroonian art critic Koyo Kouoh, who sadly passed away without seeing her vision realised.