European Green Party Co-Chair Ciarán Cuffe said:
Let’s be clear: the Italian government of Giorgia Meloni bears direct responsibility for allowing this situation to deteriorate. Failing to take the necessary measures in time is, in itself, a choice not to act. We strongly support the independence of the Venice Biennale and the principle of artistic freedom. But the Russian pavilion is linked to Russian state actors and using artistic independence as an alibi to avoid political decisions is unacceptable.’
Vula Tsetsi, co-chair of the European Green Party added:
‘Letting Russia return to the Venice Biennale, in the middle of its aggressive war against Ukraine, and while Europe maintains sanctions and a clear political stance, is not a neutral act: it is a political choice. And those who pretend today that this is only about culture are simply avoiding their responsibilities. If we have reached this point of conflict between culture and geopolitics, it is because the Italian government chose not to assume its role when it needed to. There is also a concrete responsibility regarding public resources: putting significant European funding at risk due to the absence of a clear political line is a serious decision that the government must explain.’
