Italy EU Venice Biennale Russia

FILE - A private security officer stands next to a closed Russia's pavilion at the 59th Biennale of Arts exhibition in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, April 19, 2022.

MILAN (AP) — The international jury of the Venice Biennale resigned Thursday, just days before the world’s oldest and most important contemporary art fair opens, amid a dispute over Russia’s participation.

The Biennale said in a statement that the jury, made up of the president, Solange Farkas, and Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, Giovanna Zapperi, had resigned. It didn't give a reason for the highly unusual move.