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Pussy Riot protest at Venice Biennale forces Russian pavilion to briefly close

6 May 2026 at 16:35

Demonstrators, angered by Russia’s inclusion at arts festival, shouted ‘Curated by Putin, dead bodies included’

The Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale was forced temporarily to shut its doors on the second day of the preview after the activist group Pussy Riot staged a chaotic protest against the country’s inclusion in the art festival.

Wearing pink balaclavas, the protesters ran towards the Russian pavilion where they gathered outside and lit pink, blue and yellow flares while playing punk music and shouting slogans, including “Blood is Russia’s Art”.

Variety

Pussy Riot Stage Protest Against Russian Pavilion at Venice Biennale Art Exhibition

By: Nvivarelli

6 May 2026 at 14:19

Russian feminist protest music and performance art group Pussy Riot and members of Ukrainian feminist organisation FEMEN on Wed. staged a protest attempting to block the opening of the Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale art exhibition. Screaming slogans such as “Russia’s art is blood” and “Enjoy the Show – Ignore the War” and performing […]