(VENICE, ITALY) – Russia has returned to the Venice Biennale, the world’s most prestigious art festival, triggering a wave of scandal and resignations. The international jury stepped down in protest over the decision to allow Russian participation. The move has been widely condemned as an attempt to whitewash the Kremlin’s war crimes through cultural legitimacy. The Russian pavilion operated for only three days, but organisers chose those days deliberately. It was open during the pre opening press period, when media and politicians are present and the most influential private parties take place. After the 9th of May, the pavilion closed…