The artist Alexander Shaburov (1965-) developed a series of performances about artistic identity, which included both mocking and pastiching the cult leader Marina Tsvigun (aka “Maria Devi Christ”), whose group attempted to seize the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv in 1993.

Alexander Shaburov’s 1995 installation, titled “Ivan the Toad [Ivan Zhaba],” engaged with the Western superhero genre through a multimedia hagiography of a Russian superman.

Alexander Liubimov’s (1962-) talk show, “One on One,” staged debates between public figures who disagreed strongly with each other. When nationalist provocateur Vladimir Zhirinovsky (1946-2022) and liberal reformer Boris Nemtsov (1959-2015) met on air in as the First Chechen War (1994-1996) was just beginning, sparks—and a piece of the set—flew.

An excerpt from a compilation of memorable moments with Vladislav Listyev (1956-1995) and his liberal guests on "Chas Pik," aired in the week after his murder.

In First Glove, a 1995 performance by Moscow actionist and writer Alexander Brener (1957-), the artist challenged then-President Boris Yeltsin (1931-2007) to a fistfight on Moscow’s Red Square.