Controversy Surrounding Jorit's Participation in Sochi Youth Festival and the Vandalism of His Mural in Rome

The controversy over Jorit's participation in the Sochi Youth Festival (including a photo with Putin) did not stop at words. In fact, one of his murals in Rome, dedicated to Luana D'Orazio, the 22-year-old who died in a work accident in 2021, suffered the consequences. The work, created on the exterior of the Csoa ExSnia Viscosa, in the Pigneto neighborhood, was defaced on March 13 with various writings, including 'Slava Ukraini', 'Glory to Ukraine'. Jorit, who is the street artist embraced by Putin at the international youth forum: that mural in Mariupol. But in Rome, there are many works by Ciro Cerullo (this is Jorit's real name), many of which in peripheral neighborhoods, created over the years. Some have a distinctly political character: in Tufello (on Via delle Isole Curzolane) for example, there is the portrait of Valerio Verbano, a militant of Autonomia Operaia killed on February 22, 1980, in an ambush at his home on Via Monte Bianco, in the Monte Sacro neighborhood. The mural was presented in 2021, for the 41st anniversary of his murder (which has remained shrouded in mystery all these years). In Quarticciolo (on Via Ugento), there is the mural dedicated to Marielle Franco, a Brazilian activist known for her commitment to defending human rights and the environment. One of Jorit's latest works in Rome (created in 2023). Then there is the entire thread dedicated to sports. One of the most famous murals is undoubtedly the one dedicated to the movie 'The Champion', on the exterior of a building of Ater in the Trullo neighborhood (the area where the movie was shot and set). The story tells of Christian Ferro (played by Andrea Carpenzano), a young promise of Roma soccer. Another world soccer champion - him actually existing - portrayed by Jorit in the past is Ciro Immobile: the mural with the Lazio striker is located on Via Luthuli (Ponte di Nona Vecchia) and was created on the occasion of the 2019 Coppa Italia final between Lazio and Atalanta. Although the most famous work is undoubtedly the one that portrays Diego Armando Maradona in the 'Bronx' of Naples, the San Giovanni a Teduccio neighborhood. A mural that will be destroyed: no quarrel related to Jorit's positions, but the need to redevelop the neighborhood. Jorit: 'Putin? Far from me to praise him, but the war must be stopped.' Ukrainian spokespeople in Naples: 'Stay in Russia.'