Pussy Riot Forces Temporary Closure of Russian Pavilion at Venice Biennale Amid EU Sanctions Warning

The 2024 Venice Biennale opened under a cloud of political tension. On the second day of the preview, members of the feminist punk collective Pussy Riot stormed the Russian pavilion, lighting pink, blue and yellow flares and chanting slogans such as “Blood is Russia’s Art.” Police blocked their entry, but the disturbance forced the pavilion to close temporarily.

Around 40 activists, some wearing pink balaclavas, gathered outside the pavilion, wrapped a statue in a Ukrainian flag and shouted “Russian art, Ukrainian blood.” The protest followed a first‑day scene that Nadya Tolokonnikova, a founding member of Pussy Riot, described as a “party” with crates of prosecco and loud techno music. Tolokonnikova told reporters, “It’s weird that Europe calls Ukraine a shield while repeatedly allowing Russian propaganda.”

The European Commission has formally warned the Italian government and the Biennale organizers that allowing Russia to exhibit would breach EU sanctions imposed after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The warning arrives as the Biennale’s jury resigned en masse, refusing to judge entries from countries whose leaders face international arrest warrants, a move that would have excluded Russia and Israel.

Pussy Riot’s leader appealed to Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco to stop accepting Russian money and offered to curate the 2028 Russian pavilion with works by artists imprisoned in Russian correctional facilities. No arrests were made during the demonstration, but the incident drew a large, bewildered crowd that had waited in long queues to enter the festival.

The protest underscores a broader pattern of art‑world activism at the Biennale. Earlier that day, the Art Not Genocide Alliance staged a demonstration outside the Israeli pavilion, demanding its cancellation over the Gaza conflict. Both actions reflect growing pressure on cultural institutions to align with geopolitical realities.

What it means: The EU’s sanctions warning puts Italy in a diplomatic bind, forcing organizers to decide whether to keep Russia in the Biennale or risk a breach of European law. The episode also signals that activist groups will continue to use high‑profile art events to challenge state narratives.

What to watch next: Whether the Biennale will remove the Russian pavilion, how the EU will enforce its sanctions, and if further protests will target other national pavilions during the festival.