VENICE, Italy (AP) 鈥� Russian punk group and members of the FEMEN protested the opening of the Russian pavilion at the on Wednesday.
Yelling 鈥淩ussia鈥檚 art is blood鈥� and 鈥淒isobey鈥� 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鈥檚 first participation in the international arts show since its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The European Union has slashed a 2-million-euro to the Biennale in protest.
Pussy Riot founder said the only Russian art that should be shown is by dissidents who are jailed 鈥渇or mostly ridiculous charges.鈥�
鈥淭hose people make art, and I want that art to represent Russia, because they represent the real face of Russia,鈥欌�� she said.
The jury that awards the prestigious Golden Lion prizes 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鈥檚 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
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