The Biennale announced in March that Russia would be allowed to participate for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, rejecting "any form of exclusion or censorship of art."
The announcement sparked fierce criticism from several quarters, including Ukraine and the European Commission.
Now the Biennale jury has announced that countries whose leaders are suspected of human rights violations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) will not be awarded any prizes. This is in reference to the Biennale's "commitment" to the "defense of human rights".
The ICC has issued arrest warrants for both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Venice Biennale opens on May 9.
Correction: A previous version incorrectly stated that Russia and Israel were excluded from the Biennale.
