Intervention 2025 – Russia’s answer to Eurovision has less Kitsch, more Kremlin

In the Moscow Hall of concerts, Shawharmahrzo Ganev wanders around love and his mother, Uzbekistan.

“Put your legs together as a man,” the coach suggests his voice and dance designer. “Publish your arms wider!”

It is just a rehearsal, but Shahrhmhamso sings his heart. It leads the Uzbek traditional tunes to a modern rhythm and play Duwara, the old CD of Central Asia.

Uzbekistan is among the 23 countries competing in the Scree Song competition.

It is Russia’s answer to Eurovision. With less Kitsch – and more Kremlin.

2025 intervention is Vladimir Putin’s ideas. He signed a decree to revive the song song in the Soviet era with the aim of “developing international cultural and humanitarian cooperation”.

The most obvious goal is to create an international song competition in which Moscow can actually participate. In 2022, Russia was prevented from competing in Eurovision after its widely invaded Ukraine.

Emerging style.

When the Russia team was banned from the Olympic Games, Moscow tried to create alternatives, such as future games and international friendship games.

Now the Kremlin comes to its own edition of Eurovision.

But what do you look and who participates?

In order to intervene, the Russians threw their musical network on a large scale, calling on allies from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. The starting lineup reflects the political and economic alliances of which Russia is part of, such as the BRICS Group of Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Commonwealth of Independent Countries.

The list of participating countries includes China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Vietnam, Venezuela, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Madagascar: a completely different musical map of Eurovision, and an opportunity for Karmlin to show that, despite its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is still friends.

The United States also participates: a sign of melting in relations between the United States of Russia since Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

Melting does not mean problem -free. The original center of America Brandon Howard started on the eve of the competition.

“Unfortunately, I had some … the family issues that happened here locally, that I was not (going) able to go out and do this,” the singer, who performed as B.

“However, I really think it’s a great event.”

I asked, “Was there some people who told you Brandon, shouldn’t you go, because of the war?”

“Some fans may mention some things like that and expressed their slight concern. However, most often supported me going there, as it was sent to be a light lighthouse.”

B. Howard was replaced by Australian singer Fassi Fassi, who lives in Los Angeles.

“4.3 billion people live in 23 participating countries,” Senior Crimin’s chief Sergey Kirinko “This is more than half of the world’s population.”

Mr. Kirinko, Vice President of President Putin, heads the supervisory council for the song competition. A brief appearance this week appeared at a press conference to intervene alongside Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Cherenchanko.

“I know that some people think there is an element in the policy in Eurovision,” said Mr. Lavrov. “But see who represents here: the Kremlin, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian government. Isn’t this evidence that intervention is a purely political or geopolitical project?”

“If the governments of some countries do not make any effort to create mechanisms to support culture, this is its choice,” Mr. Lavrov answers. “In our country, the state is participating in promoting the arts. Your question is rooted in the fear of competition.”

In Ukraine they fear something completely different: that Moscow uses intervention to transform global attention from the war.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ukraine considers that the 2025 song competition organized by Russia is a tool for hostile propaganda is a way to whiten the aggressive policy of the Russian Federation,” the ministry said in May.

War in the minds of some people to intervene.

“The frightening thing is war, with everything that happens. These are the things that we were thinking about,” says Rene Krager of the South African Group Mazansi Jikilelli.

“But we are reassuring:” Come, guys, nothing is wrong. “It is clear that we are (tense), but here we have treated very well.”

Russia represents the intervention of 2025 Yaroslav Dronov, known for its name at the Shaman Theater. Last year, the European Union imposed on “supporting actions and policies that undermine regional integrity and Ukraine.”

His previous songs include Anna Rossi, a national pop music song that announces:

“I am Russian, I go to the end … I am Russian, despite the whole world.”

Not exactly love shines light or keeps your kisses.

But Russia is using an intervention to show a softer picture than that of three and a half years of its war in Ukraine.

In the withdrawal of the official song competition to determine the running order, international delegations are dealt with with a Russian feast, including household cheese and Gingerbread Sporting The Intervision Logo. When the popular dancers were placed in an amazing show, the volunteers distribute giant necklaces of bread rings, a symbol of Russian hospitality.

One after the other, the participants approach the giant samovar, choose a cup of tea and fill it with hot water. Magic cups reveal the performance opening number for each country.

From popular fashion to Blinis, focus here on traditions.

It is the same with songs. The official goal of the competition is to “identify the unique cultural traditions and the achievements of the participating countries (and) to enhance global, spiritual, cultural, ethical and religious traditions of different countries.”

International artists have read the book of rules.

“My song tells about culture from Vietnam,” the Vietnamese participant tells me. “I need to share Vietnam culture with everyone.”

“How did you choose to represent your country?” Ask.

“The Ministry of Culture chose me.”

“Our song is about a woman called Maria,” says Brazilian Tays Nader. “Maria is like any Brazilian woman. She is working hard to live. But she is always smiling with her eyes shining.”

“Have you heard about Eurovision?” Ask.

“In fact, we searched online on intervention and discovered Eurovision! Before, we did not know the intervention or Eurovision. It’s new for us.”

For many Russians, also intervention is a new thing. In fact, it is a ghost of the Communist era that was summoned from the grave of past song competitions.

The original Sting Song competition was born behind the iron curtain at a time when East and West competing in everything. In the Cold War there was space race, armament and cultural wars, too.

From the mid -fifties of the twentieth century, Eurofigon himself established a big deal in Western Europe, while the festivals of the Eastern Bloc songs in Czechoslovakia and Poland gained the cross -intervention brand.

There was, though, some intersection. Finland participated in Eurovision and Scipision, and large names from the West made the appearances of guests in the east. Gloria Gaynor, PETULA CLARKE and Boney-M performed everything.

After the fall of communism, Russia and Eastern Europe adopted the political changes sweeping the continent and were keen to compete in Eurovision. I saw it directly in 1996 when, through a group of fate, I participated in the presentation of the Russian TV song in Europe’s competition to choose the entry of Eurovision.

During a tour accompanied by guides on Russian television, I received a chat with the director of the show. When I told him that I was a great eurovision fans, I asked me to return in that evening to help consolidate the program. I will never forget the enthusiasm of everyone in the studio that night: not only about Eurovision, but about the fact that Russia is part of the European family.

But with the tense relationship of the Kremlin with the West and Moscow’s attacks on Western liberalism and intense “unconventional values”, as well as beef in Russia with the European song competition.

Especially after the Queen of Austrian clouds, Konchita and Ursthurovgen, won in 2014.

Russian MP Valery Rashkin at the time told me: “Giving the first place to a bearded lady is a slight matter for humanity.”

Mr. Rashkin called Russia to get rid of Eurovision and organize her voice competition in Eurasia. Another “Goodvision” suggested as a possible alternative.

It was clear, then, that the European song competition and Russia were in a collision. EUROVISION explained the point of welcoming the LGBTQ community, as he presented itself as an inclusive and diversity. On the contrary, Russia launched a gay rights campaign, and general expressions of LGBTQ have made.

There will be no sign of the camp in the Songision Song competition.

But will people see it? Will the singers and songs who acquire the audience of the audience across many continents? The major time differences between the participating countries will probably prevent the kind of viewing experience that you get with Eurovision.

There will be no general vote. Just a jury: one member for each country. But how will the vote happen?

“The voting system has been specially invented by a very famous scientist and mathematics,” the commentator tells me the intervention of Russian TV Yana Corikova. “Especially for intervention.”

Returning to the rehearsal room, the participant of Uzbekistan admits Shohruhmirzo ganiyev that he does not know the complications of the voting system. He is just excited about being here. As well as his mother. She is proudly searches as her son trains.

Although his country is not in Eurovision, Shahruhmirzo tells me that the competition is famous in Uzbekistan. Now, though, focus on his performance here.

“I am very happy to come to intervention,” he tells me. “I will leave Eurovision in the past.”