Art as a Weapon: The Kremlin's Use of Culture in Hybrid Warfare.

Yekaterina Margolis's Address

According to UATV: Artist and writer Yekaterina Margolis, speaking on the FREEDOM TV channel, argued that Moscow's attempts to separate culture and sports from its war against Ukraine are part of a Kremlin propaganda strategy. She stated that it is impossible to imagine sports and culture as existing outside of politics, especially at a state level, such as in the context of participation in the Olympic and Paralympic Games or presence at a biennale. This perspective is particularly relevant as international cultural forums often become arenas for geopolitical influence.

No sport, no culture outside of politics, especially at the state level, is absolutely impossible.

Yekaterina Margolis

During her address on March 6, 2023, Margolis noted that in 2022, the leadership of the biennale had already stated that Russia's participation at a state level was impossible due to its aggression against Ukraine. She emphasized that the war in Ukraine has been ongoing for several years and stressed that Russia has always used culture as a 'hybrid weapon,' dating back to the times of the Soviet Union and the KGB in the 1920s.

She also added that if a person has not found the words to condemn genocide over four years, it suggests they are 'either playing on the side of the aggressor.'

The Need for Coordination at a European Level

Furthermore, Margolis pointed out that this also applies to all 'friendship societies' that inherited Soviet KGB structures. 'Regarding hybrid war, cultural operations, and everything else, it seems to me it's long past time to establish coordination at a European level,' she noted, underscoring the necessity for joint action to counter propaganda campaigns. This call highlights the transnational nature of modern information warfare.

Yekaterina Margolis's speech focuses on the critical importance of understanding the interconnection between culture, sports, and politics, especially in the context of modern conflicts. Her words underline that ignoring this link can lead to the legitimization of aggressive actions and support for regimes that violate international norms. Declarations of neutrality in cultural and sports spheres, in Margolis's view, can be used as tools for manipulation and diverting attention from the real problems facing the world community in connection with Russia's aggression against Ukraine.