Vietnamese singer Duc Phuc won the inaugural Intervision Song Contest in Moscow this weekend, taking home 30 million rubles - approximately €365,000.
The music contest was created by presidential decree in February after Russia’s exclusion from Eurovision three years ago for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Featuring 23 acts, including China, South Africa, Brazil, the UAE, India, Cuba, Ethiopia, Venezuela and the US, Putin’s answer to Eurovision is as much about politics, power and propaganda as it is about performance.
While Kremlin officials insist that Intervision is not an example of Russian soft power, Russian politicians have been consistently linked to promoting Intervision.
Vladimir Putin discussed the contest during his state visit to China at the start of September and recorded a special video message screened before the show began.
“What we are doing is diametrically opposite to the attempts to use sports, art, and any other human activities for political gains,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told journalists in a pre-contest press conference. Lavrov also appeared at the show, holding an interview between the first and second acts.
This inaugural edition saw the ultra-patriotic Russian contestant SHAMAN deliver a passionate speech asking for Russia's performance not to be considered by the international jury. “Russia has already won by inviting so many countries to join us,” he said.
There was one slip-up though: moments before the US entrant, Australian-born Vassy, was due to take to the stage, the show's presenters announced that she would not be able to perform due to “political pressure” from the Australian government.
Also not managing to dodge politics is Eurovision, as tensions continue to mount over a growing number of countries threatening to drop out of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest should Israel be kept on the line-up.
Last week, Spain's public broadcaster RTVE officially announced that it would not take part if Israel participates, with the support of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Culture.
Spain joins Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland and the Netherlands, which are also threatening to boycott Eurovision 2026.
However, also last week, France and Australia confirmed that they would be participating in Eurovision 2026.
