Ukraine Sanctions Russian Culture Figures Linked to Country’s Participation in Venice Biennale
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on Friday imposing sanctions on five Russian cultural figures linked to organizing the Russian Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, ARTnews reported, citing UA News. Those sanctioned include pavilion commissioner Anastasia Karneeva and Mikhail Shvydkoy, Russia’s delegate for international cultural exchanges and a former culture minister, as well as violinist Valeria Oleinik, singer Ilya Tatakov, and vocalist Artem Nikolaev. Ukraine said the individuals “justify the aggression and spread Russian propaganda,” alleging Oleinik has visited Crimea since 2014 in support of Russia’s occupation, Nikolaev participated in propaganda events in Crimea in 2025, and Tatakov helped create a propaganda film in occupied areas of the Donetsk region. The Venice Biennale stated in a 4 March announcement of national pavilions that it rejects “exclusion or censorship of culture and art,” and Shvydkoy told ARTnews last month that the Russian Pavilion would proceed despite possible sanctions ahead of the Biennale’s May opening.
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This story was covered in Museum Power Shifts and Art Crime Crackdowns