The Venice Biennale has excluded Russia and Israel from the awards
At this year’s Venice Biennale, the top prizes will not be awarded to representatives from Russia and Israel. The jury decided to exclude these countries from consideration for the “Golden Lion” and “Silver Lion,” citing the political context and the stance of international institutions as reasons for the decision. This decision has already sparked controversy, as both countries have regularly found themselves at the center of political and cultural disputes in recent years. This was reported by Adnkronos.
According to the decision, countries whose leaders are currently facing proceedings at the International Criminal Court will not be eligible for the top awards. The decision states that this applies to states implicated in cases involving potential crimes against humanity.
“According to the jury’s decision, countries whose leaders are currently accused by the International Criminal Court of crimes against humanity will be excluded from consideration for the top awards, which will be presented on May 9,” the statement reads.
Thus, Russia and Israel will not be eligible for the Biennale’s top awards. These are the “Golden Lion” and “Silver Lion,” which are traditionally considered the exhibition’s top honors.
The article also notes that in 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin in connection with the war against Ukraine, and in 2024, a similar step was taken against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to events in the Gaza Strip.
The organizers note that the decision was made against the backdrop of the high politicization of cultural events in recent years, when the pavilions of both countries have often been the targets of protests and calls for boycotts.
