Rome, 3 May (LaPresse) – A heated exchange between the Ministry of Culture’s inspectors and the leadership of the Venice Biennale Foundation: “The Russian Federation has not been formally invited.” This is the gist of the seven-page report drawn up by the inspectors sent by Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli following their meeting with the Biennale’s leadership regarding Russia’s participation in the upcoming event. Seven pages of back-and-forth, previewed by Corriere della Sera. On one side, the inspectors sent to Venice by Minister Alessandro Giuli who want answers; on the other, the Biennale’s leadership, chaired by Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, who must provide explanations. It is the experts who are grappling with documents, contracts and laws. At the heart of the matter: the reopening of the Russian pavilion following the European Commission’s funding withdrawal procedure, compliance with sanctions imposed on Moscow, but also the reason behind the resignation of the Exhibition’s jury following the formal notice sent by the lawyers of the artist representing Israel at the 61st Biennale, Belu-Siomion Fainaru, over alleged irregularities by the judging panel. The document will be sent to Palazzo Chigi tomorrow and will land on the desks of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Undersecretary Giovanbattista Fazzolari. It was drafted by the MIC’s ‘007s’ and countersigned by the Biennale on Thursday at 3.30 pm at the conclusion of the inspection. The Biennale states that, by decision of the Foundation, “the current edition of the catalogue published by the Biennale will not include the section relating to the Russian Federation’s participation, as Russia’s participation is currently under review in light of the current regulatory framework”.