EU pulls $2.3 million from Venice Biennale over Russia pavilion; president cites $5.9 billion in Putin gas contracts

The European Commission pulled $2.3 million from the Venice Biennale Foundation, with an EU spokesperson saying taxpayers' money "should safeguard democratic values" "not respected in today's Russia" (Variety, 28 August 2026). Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco accused the EU of a double standard, noting it gave Putin $5.9 billion in liquefied natural gas contracts over six months. The Biennale runs the Venice Film Festival.