Intervision, the Russian alternative to the Eurovision Song Contest, has kicked off in Moscow with a message from President Vladimir Putin. He emphasized that the event promotes the preservation of cultural identity. “Respect for traditional values and the diversity of cultures is the fundamental idea of the competition and inspires participants to achieve artistic heights,” Putin stated.
The musical competition features 23 countries and is being held at the Live Arena concert hall in Moscow, with an audience of approximately 11,000 spectators, according to the organizers.
Shortly before the performance of Australian-born singer Vasiliki Karagiorgos, known as Vassy, who was set to represent the United States, the hosts announced her withdrawal from the contest. The organizers, confirming that Vassy holds US citizenship, attributed her removal to alleged “unprecedented political pressure from the Australian government.”
Vassy was originally a replacement candidate after the initially announced US entrant, musician B Howard (Brandon Howard), withdrew on Wednesday due to “unforeseen family reasons.”
Russia’s state-run Channel One is broadcasting the three-and-a-half-hour show. The winner will be decided by an international jury composed of representatives from the participating countries. These include former Soviet republics such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Russia’s allies within the BRICS group—China, India, Brazil, and South Africa.
Unlike Eurovision, Intervision does not allow public voting. Russia has been barred from participating in Eurovision since 2022, following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Intervision is widely seen as President Putin’s conservative counter-project to Eurovision. Reflecting this stance, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov remarked, “There will be no perversions or mockery of human nature.”
https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/australian-singer-quits-russias-eurovision-alternative-c-20091310
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