Sweden’s cooperation with Russian and Belarusian cultural actors
SWEDEN, March 8 – Sweden condemns in the strongest possible way Russia’s unprovoked, illegal and unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine. Russia’s actions are an attack on the European security order, and European countries are now in solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Extensive sanctions have been imposed in a short time against Russia and the Russian central government. The government is now continuing to push for sanctions against Russia, support for Ukraine and the strengthening of Sweden.
“Culture plays a key role in freedom of expression and democratization, not least in times of war. Support must therefore be given to those who express support for democracy, including artists, journalists and cultural actors. Therefore, as Minister of Culture, one of my highest priorities is to support freedom of expression, artistic freedom and individual artists and journalists in every way that the government and I can, ”says Minister of Culture Jeanette Gustafsdotter.
The following applies to cultural cooperation between Swedish cultural institutions and authorities as well as Russia and Belarus:
- The Government encourages the immediate cessation of all contacts and cooperation with state institutions in Russia and Belarus and the initiation of no new contacts or commitments.
- However, there are individual contacts between cultural actors in Sweden, Russia and Belarus. Many individual cultural actors, journalists and artists in Russia and Belarus are part of a grassroots and sometimes open opposition to the Russian central government and its actions. It is not possible to equate individual Russian and Belarusian cultural actors with state institutions and categorically call for breaking all contacts with cultural actors.
- The Government’s starting point is that Swedish cultural institutions and authorities in each individual case ensure whether any individual contacts and collaborations are appropriate. We encourage Swedish cultural institutions and authorities to pay special attention to the security policy aspects of such cooperation.
- The Government’s recommendation is that Swedish cultural institutions and authorities should have a very strict stance regarding payments, handling of applications, implementation of projects, concluding agreements, etc. that involve Russian and Belarusian recipients.