ABSTRACT
The relationship between contemporary art and the Russian government, its legislative, executive and judicial branches, can be defined as a permanent conflict that has frozen at a critical point but not transformed into a fully fledged war. Conflicts had erupted between state and culture in post-Soviet Russia before 1999, but these had been successfully defused. The new concept of government-supported official art differs markedly from the official art of the Soviet era. Perov, a graduate of a military academy, served as head of the department of culture in the Russian government for three years. The war between culture and the Russian government is still in full swing so it is too early to draw any conclusions. Most of the government's strategy, however, is already clear. The most persecuted art at the present time is that which combines social criticism with laughter.
