Venice Biennale Jury Bars Russian, Israeli Artists From Awards Over ICC Warrants

Jurors at the Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition announced they will not consider awards for artists from countries whose leaders face International Criminal Court (ICC) charges, effectively excluding Russia and Israel, Reuters reported on April 23.

The five jury members, responsible for awarding the prestigious Golden and Silver Lions among 110 participants at the event opening May 9, stated their decision is a commitment to the defense of human rights.

“This jury will refrain from the consideration of those countries whose leaders are currently charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court,” Reuters quoted the statement, which didn’t explicitly name the nations.

The ICC currently holds active arrest warrants for Russian leader Vladimir Putin over war crimes against children in Ukraine, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes in Gaza.

The jury’s boycott comes amid backlash over the Biennale organizers’ decision to allow Russia to reopen its pavilion this year. Following the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian artists and institutions were largely banned from major European cultural events.

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Russia’s readmission drew criticism from the European Union and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Reuters reported that, on April 23, the European Commission announced it had sent a formal letter to the Biennale, threatening to terminate or suspend a €2 million ($2.34 million) grant over Moscow’s return. The Biennale has 30 days to respond to the EU Commission.

Addressing the jury’s boycott, the Biennale released a separate statement defending the panel’s independence. “This is a position that the members have decided to bring forward and make public. It is a natural expression of the freedom and autonomy that La Biennale guarantees,” organizers said.

The Venice Biennale jury’s boycott centers on the same ICC arrest warrants that are currently restricting Vladimir Putin’s international travel. Issued over the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children, the warrant had previously forced the Russian leader to cancel his in-person appearance at the previous July BRICS summit in Brazil.

The Kremlin had confirmed that Putin would participate only via video link. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov admitted the change was necessary because Brazil, as an ICC signatory, would be legally obligated to arrest Putin if he showed up.

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