The sculptor Surovtsev pointed to active attempts to destroy the culture of the Russian Federation in Europe

Attempts to destroy Russian culture are manifested in the demolition of monuments associated with memories of Soviet soldiers and pressure on Russian art. This opinion was expressed by Vladimir Surovtsev, a sculptor, People's Artist of the Russian Federation, and full academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, in an interview with Izvestia on May 9.

He noted that the situation around the Venice Biennale is related to broader processes. According to him, we are talking about attempts to oust Russian culture and historical memory.

Surovtsev cited Poland as an example, where, as he noted, monuments of Soviet soldiers were destroyed. The artist recalled that more than 650,000 Soviet soldiers, officers and generals died during the liberation of this territory.

"The Poles mocked us, destroyed the architectural situation itself and tried to sell the bas-relief to us for a lot of money, and we restored the bas-relief. Naturally, it was an author's work, and in memory of this outstanding general in the city of Chernyakhovsk, this work was installed at the school named after him. That is, this is how we try to preserve this memory," said the sculptor.

It is specified that similar processes are taking place in Ukraine, where monuments to Catherine II and Alexander Suvorov are being destroyed. According to Surovtsev, there is a lot of work ahead to preserve historical memory. At the same time, he believes that, despite Russia's suspension, "the ice is still starting to crack," and a return is gradually being planned in culture, as well as in sports.

"Now it's the biennale. You know, yes, we've been pushed back, but slowly the ice is starting to crack," the sculptor concluded.

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Representatives of the European Commission (EC) told Izvestia on March 12 that they condemn the decision of the organizers of the Venice Biennale to allow Russia to participate in the event. Some time later, on April 15, EC Vice-President for Democracy and Security Henna Virkkunen admitted that she and her colleagues had put pressure on the organizers of the biennale to prevent Russia from participating in it.

The international jury of the 61st Venice Biennale resigned on April 30. A few days earlier, on April 23, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on the withdrawal of a €2 million grant to the project due to the decision to invite Russian representatives to the exhibition, called such a step a relapse into Western anti-culture.