The Orthodox Church has acquired enormous political clout in recent years, and few politicians risk offending it. The Sakharov Museum exhibition was subjected to a vituperative media campaign, and the matter was almost immediately taken up in the Duma, where nationalist deputies vied with each other to denounce the artists and laud the vandals.
艺术世界惊人现象的背后是俄国东正教教旨和民族主义的日渐抬头。东正教堂近年来获得了巨大的政治权力，没有几个政治家敢冒险与之抗衡。萨哈罗夫博物馆展览受到媒体的一致责难，几乎立即提交杜马讨论，民族主义的代表竞相谴责艺术家，歌颂破坏者。