Russia was banned from entering the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine, but it seems Vladimir Putin doesn’t want the country to miss out on the fun
Russia might not be a part of the Eurovision Song Contest at the moment – but that doesn’t mean Vladimir Putin doesn’t want to be part of the fun.
While Russia has competed and even won Eurovision in the past, they were kicked out in 2022 after invading Ukraine. The same year, Ukraine won with Kalush Orchestra’s Stefania, however second-place UK hosted the 2023 contest due to the ongoing war.
It was announced earlier this year that Russia will hold its Intervision competition in September. It was originally launched in 1965, and was the Eastern Bloc equivalent to the Eurovision Song Contest.
Organisers have said the 2025 contest will be held in Moscow at the LIVE Arena.
Putin shared his plans for the contest to return in February.
It originally included countries from the Eastern Bloc, including Hungary, Poland, East Germany and the Soviet Union. Over the years, other countries, such as Portugal, Switzerland, Spain and Azerbaijan, joined.
It aired from 1965 to 1968, then again between 1977 and 1980, and for a final time in 2008.
Russia was banned from entering the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022 after it launched an attack on Ukraine. Fans and other participating countries put pressure on organisers the European Broadcasting Union to ban Russia.
Russian singer Alla Pugacheva, who is considered the country’s queen of pop, was one of the joint winners in 1978.
And after having said Russia could compete just a day earlier, the country was blacklisted after a quick change of mind from the EBU.
Organisers have always said the contest is not political, and entrants with political messaging are often asked to change their performance or leave the competition.
However the decision to remove Russia was praised by many in politics.
UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said on Twitter at the time: “Eurovision stands for freedom, unity and respect between countries – watched and enjoyed by tens of millions around the world.
Glad to see Eurovision taking action and kicking Russia out.”