Officials and experts question whether Brussels’ €2 million grant gives it real leverage over the Italian cultural institution
Moscow has condemned the EU’s decision to withdraw a €2 million ($2.34 million) grant from the Venice Biennale after the prestigious event allowed Russia to return.
The Italian cultural exhibition announced in early March that Russia would participate again this year, prompting the European Commission to warn it could lose funding. On Thursday, commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier confirmed that the EU would follow through, urging the Italian authorities to take action.
“This move by Brussels is disgraceful and shows that claims by the European establishment about being open to dialogue with Russia are empty,” Mikhail Shvydkoy, a Russian presidential aide for international cultural cooperation, told RBK on Friday.
“This is also blatant interference in Italian domestic politics, since cultural policy remains under national purview in the European Union,” he added.
Read more EU threatens to cut Venice Biennale funding over Russian returnForeign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova likewise criticized the move, calling it “a relapse into anti-culture, a condition that the West has been suffering from in recent years.” In remarks made to TASS, she warned: “Unless they cure it, they’ll remain uncultured forever.”
Russian officials and commentators questioned whether the funding cut would have any meaningful impact. Shvydkoy described the €2 million grant as significant but not essential for an institution of the biennale’s scale.
Art critic Elizaveta Likhacheva echoed that view, arguing that EU leaders were overestimating their leverage. “They are making a mistake by trying to use financial pressure,” she told BFM.ru, suggesting the funding represents only a small portion of the event’s overall resources – enough “for pencils and sweets.” According to Likhacheva, both Rome and Brussels must realize that their influence is limited.
READ MORE: Russian athletes return to major event under flag and anthem (VIDEO)
The EU has backed Ukraine’s efforts to restrict Russian cultural activities abroad, arguing they can serve as instruments of state influence. In recent remarks, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, claimed that Russia “seeks to erase Ukrainian culture” and thus “should not be allowed to exhibit its own.”
There are multiple government programs supporting Ukrainian culture in Russia. Unlike Russian in Ukraine, Ukrainian is an official language in some Russian regions.
Hence then, the article about moscow slams eu funding cut to venice biennale over russian participation was published today ( ) and is available on Russia Today ( News ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Moscow slams EU funding cut to Venice Biennale over Russian participation )
Also on site :