04 February 2025 , 20:33
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Eurovision move out of the way, because Vladimir Putin is set to stage his very own anti-Western international song contest.
The rival event – called Intervision – previously ran in Russia between 1965 and 1968 and then later between 1977 and 1980 but was a flop.
However it seems to be back for 2025 after Putin issued a decree for the singing contest to be revived.
Intervision this time around is expected to take place in the Russian capital, Moscow, in September.
The event will feature around 25 countries sympathetic to Russia, including the likes of Venezuela, North Korea, Iran and other allies.
Unsurprisingly, Ukraine will not be taking part in Intervision and did not take part in the original singing contest either.
The singing contest previously ran during the time of the Soviet Union (Picture: Social media/east2west newss)
The singing contest will aim to develop ‘international cultural and humanitarian cooperation’, according to Putin’s presidential decree.
Moscow producer Yana Rudkovskaya praised the news and said: ‘The idea is super. I am sure that it will be global in scale.’
It will be up to Putin’s deputy, Dmitry Chernyshenko, to organise the event, while domestic policy chief Sergei Kiriyenko will chair the supervisory board.
Intervision previously used a voting system where viewers turned their lights on or off to cast votes, with the results measured by electricity consumption.
It is unclear how votes will be recorded this time around.
Intervision could even be a chance for Putin to showcase his singing skills.
After all, the Russian President showcased his vocal skills by singing ‘Blueberry Hill’ at a children’s charity benefit in 2010 in St Petersburg and was applauded by Hollywood film stars at the time.
The news comes three years after Russia was banned from the Eurovision Song Congest over its invasion of Ukraine.
The European Broadcasting Union announced the news in February 2022 following criticism from other countries, including Norway, Finland and Estonia, who called for the ban.
The EBU said the inclusion of a Russian entry in the 2022 contest would bring the competition into disrepute.
Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it took part in the singing contest from 1994 to 2021.
Putin showcased his vocals in 2010 when he sang his own version of ‘Bluerberry Hill’ (Picture: 1TV/east2west news)
Dima Bilan’s song ‘Believe’ won in 2008 and so Russia hosted Eurovision in 2009 while Putin was prime minister.
Another well-known entry for Russia in 2012 was Buranovskiye Babushki, better known as the Russian grannies.
The grannies performed the song ‘Party for Everybody’, impressed viewers with their dance skills and came second.
It was one for the ages after the babushki teamed traditional verses with a ridiculous earworm of a chorus, and baked bread while doing it.