Ukraine has imposed sanctions against five Russian cultural propagandists involved in the aggressor state's participation in the Venice Biennale, a corresponding decree on the implementation of the National Security and Defense Council's decision was signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UNN reports with reference to the OP.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree enacting the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to impose sanctions against five Russian cultural figures who justify aggression and spread Russian propaganda at international events. All of them are connected with the aggressor state's participation in the 61st Venice Biennale.
"Among them is Anastasia Karneeva, daughter of the sanctioned deputy general director of "Rostec", who has been appointed commissioner of the Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale since 2021 and will represent Russia there this year," the statement said.
The sanctions, as indicated, were also applied against Mikhail Shvydkoy, the Russian leader's special representative for international cultural cooperation, who calls Russia's war against Ukraine an "important historical moment." He also publicly states that Russia's admission to participate in the Venice Biennale is allegedly proof that Russian culture is not isolated.
This list also includes Russians who will participate in the Venice Biennale this year on behalf of the aggressor state: violinist Valeriia Oleinik, who after 2014 repeatedly visited the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula to support aggression, singer Ilya Tatakov, who participated in the creation of a propaganda film in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk region to promote the ideas of the "Russian world", and vocalist Artem Nikolaev, who last year participated in propaganda events in Crimea, the OP noted.
"Russia's participation in the Venice Biennale is not about culture, but about using international platforms to legitimize aggression and spread propaganda. Either you are against the Russian regime and have access to the cultural space of the free world, or you serve propaganda, get sanctions, and participate in the 'cucumber' festival," said Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Advisor to the President on Sanctions Policy.
Ukraine, as reported, will transfer all necessary information to partners to synchronize sanctions in their jurisdictions.