EU Imposes Sanctions on Venice Biennale Over Russia Pavilion Opening

The European Commission has canceled the 2 million euro grant provided to the Venice Biennale due to the opening of Russia's pavilion.The Commission argues that 'culture should serve democracy' as the reasoning behind this decision.European Commission Spokesman Thomas Regnier stated that the EU has been hesitant about Russia's participation in the biennale from the start. During a press conference in Brussels, Regnier announced that the responses from the organizers have been evaluated, resulting in the decision to cancel the EU grant. When asked if the European Commission is also pushing for the closure of the Israeli pavilion due to war crimes, Regnier left the question unanswered, emphasizing that the decision is solely directed at Russia.