Pussy Riot, Femen storm Russian pavilion at Venice Biennale
The Kyiv Independent • • world
Key Points:
- On May 6, feminist protest groups Pussy Riot and Femen stormed the Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale, with police intervening as members performed and displayed Ukrainian flags with smoke bombs inside the building.
- Fifty Pussy Riot members performed the song "Disobey," condemning fascism and violence, while Femen activists highlighted Ukraine's suffering, marking the first joint public protest by the two groups.
- The Russian pavilion, funded by the Kremlin and linked to Russia’s military-industrial complex, sparked international controversy due to Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
- Pussy Riot co-founder Nadya Tolokonnikova urged the Venice Biennale to instead showcase the art of Russian political prisoners, emphasizing the human cost of the war and condemning the Kremlin’s narrative.
- Femen's Inna Shevchenko criticized the pavilion as being sustained by Ukrainian blood, accusing Russia of using culture to mask its aggression and violence in Ukraine.
