Vladimir Putin has ordered the revival of the Soviet-era Intervision song contest, following Russia's ban from Eurovision after its invasion of Ukraine. The Russian leader signed a decree on Monday instructing officials to organise the event in Moscow this autumn, aiming to 'develop international cultural and humanitarian cooperation'.
Presidential envoy Mikhail Shvydkoi said 'almost 20 countries' had agreed to participate, including Brazil, Cuba, India, China and other 'friendly' nations. The original Intervision competition ran sporadically from the 1960s to the 1980s as the Eastern bloc's response to Eurovision, held in Poland and Czechoslovakia with participants from communist allies such as Cuba.
Russia was banned from Eurovision in 2022 after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and its national broadcasters later suspended their memberships of the European Broadcasting Union. The new Intervision aims to promote 'traditional universal, spiritual and family values', with organisers criticising Eurovision for including performers such as Austrian drag artist Conchita Wurst.
According to planning documents seen by Reuters, artists must avoid political themes and calls for violence, and respect cultural and religious traditions. The winner will receive prize money and a tour. Putin told a Russian reporter last November that he discussed the idea with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who supported it.
Some observers question the viability of Intervision, given Russia's previous failed attempts to stage large-scale events without Western involvement, such as the Friendship Games suspended last year.
