Ultranationalist painter Alexey Belyaev-Guintovt wins 2008 Kandinsky Prize, igniting fascism accusations in Russian art.

In December 2008, the Kandinsky Prize was awarded to ultranationalist artist Alexey Belyaev-Guintovt, who triumphed over Boris Orlov and Dmitry Gutov, igniting allegations of fascism and causing rifts within Moscow's art community. Belyaev-Guintovt, associated with the Eurasianist Movement of Youth, is known for pieces such as Brothers and Sisters and Daughterland, which merge Stalinist themes with Russian elements. The awards event became chaotic when Anatoly Osmolovsky yelled "Disgrace!" leading Gutov to withdraw his submissions. The jury's decision was narrowly made with a 4-3 vote, raising concerns about potential biases. Following the uproar, Belyaev-Guintovt's artwork prices surged by 30%, underscoring the conflict between liberal artists and new galleries in Moscow. He is currently developing a series that envisions "a Eurasian parade of the future."