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57m ago

Russia Launches Kremlin-Backed Intervision Song Contest in Moscow With 23 Nations

Presented as an alternative to Eurovision, the reboot spotlights "traditional values" with jury-only voting plus a 30 million rouble prize.

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Spectators wave flags of Russia, China and other countries during a ceremony, which marks the 100-day countdown to the start of the Intervision Song Contest, in central Moscow, Russia, June 12, 2025. Russia, which was banned from Eurovision in 2022, plans to revive the Soviet-era Intervision international music contest in September 2025. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov/File Photo

Overview

  • The live final takes place Saturday in Moscow, with a Russian state TV broadcast and organisers claiming online or TV availability to a global audience of over 4 billion without naming foreign carriers.
  • Twenty-three countries are entered, including China, India, Brazil, Belarus, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Serbia, with the United States now represented by Vassy after Brandon Howard withdrew citing family reasons.
  • Russia’s entrant is Shaman (Yaroslav Dronov), performing a Russian-language song titled "Straight to the Heart."
  • Officials frame the contest as promoting traditional, universal and family values, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov describing it as an alternative approach to preserving national cultures.
  • Ukraine condemns Intervision as hostile propaganda, and local Russian media report organisers sought paid extras to fill seats as questions linger over international broadcast uptake.