Pussy Riot protest in Venice

The Venice Biennale was disrupted on Wednesday as members of the Russian punk collective Pussy Riot and the Ukrainian feminist group FEMEN staged a protest at the Russian pavilion.

Demonstrators blocked access to the building and displayed banners criticizing Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the use of culture as a tool of state power.

The protest forced the temporary closure of the pavilion, which was hosting Russia's first participation in the prestigious arts festival since 2022.

Organizers and security officials worked to clear the area as activist groups called for the complete exclusion of Russia from international cultural events.