Belarus is represented by the art director of the choir named after Tsitovich - Mikhail Drinevsky, and the people's artists of Belarus - Gavriil Vaschenko and Ivan Misko. Russia is represented by 9 candidates. Three awards of the Union State in literature and art are presented once every two years. The main selection criterion is the significance of the contribution of art work in the consolidation of the relations, friendship and cooperation between Belarus and Russia.