Venice Biennale jury quits over decision to allow Russia’s participation – POLITICO

The entire international jury of the Venice Biennale resigned on Thursday in the latest escalation of a months-long political fight over Russia’s return to the exhibition.

The exodus marks one of the most dramatic moves yet in a dispute that has pitted members of the jury, the Biennale Foundation and the Italian government against one another. At the heart of the conflict is a controversial decision to reopen the Russian pavilion, which has been closed since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In their resignation letter, the jury said the move was motivated by their refusal to engage with “those countries whose leaders are currently charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court” — in other words, Russia and Israel.