Intervision, the Russian alternative to the Eurovision Song Contest, has kicked off in Moscow with a message from President Vladimir Putin. In his address, Putin 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,” he stated.
The musical competition features 23 countries and is being held in front of about 11,000 spectators at the Live Arena concert hall in Moscow, according to the organizers.
Shortly before the performance of Australian-born singer Vasiliki Karagiorgos, known professionally as Vassy, who was set to represent the United States, the hosts announced that she would no longer be participating. The organizers, noting that Vassy holds US citizenship, attributed her withdrawal to alleged “unprecedented political pressure from the Australian government.”
Vassy had already been a replacement candidate, stepping in after the originally announced US entry, 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 made up of representatives from the participating countries. These include former Soviet republics such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Russia’s allies in the BRICS group, including 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. “There will be no perversions or mockery of human nature,” commented Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/australian-singer-quits-russias-eurovision-alternative-c-20091307
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