Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to revive the Intervision song contest, a Soviet-era alternative to Eurovision, after Russia was banned from Eurovision following its invasion of Ukraine.
The competition is set to take place in Moscow this autumn, with nearly 20 countries reportedly agreeing to participate, including Brazil, Cuba, India, China, and other "friendly" nations.
Russia was banned from Eurovision in 2022, and its national broadcasters subsequently suspended membership of the European Broadcasting Union. The original Intervision contest ran sporadically from the 1960s to the 1980s as the eastern bloc's response to Eurovision.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko has been appointed head of the organising committee. According to planning documents, the contest will emphasise "traditional universal, spiritual and family values," and artists are urged to avoid political themes or songs that "humiliate the honour and dignity of society."
Performers will have up to four minutes to sing live in any language, with the winner receiving a prize and a tour. Putin previously discussed the idea with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who reportedly supported it.
Some observers have questioned the viability of Intervision, given Russia's previous failed attempts to organise large-scale events without Western involvement, such as the postponed Friendship Games.
