Australian-US Singer Withdraws From Russia's Intervision Amid Political Pressure

Vasiliki Karagiorgos, known as Vassy, an Australian-born singer with U.S. citizenship, withdrew from representing the United States at the Russian-hosted Intervision song contest amid claims by Russian organisers of political pressure from the Australian government. Vassy, who was a replacement for the original US contestant, stated she was still processing the situation and planned to provide more details later. The Intervision contest, initiated by Russia as a conservative counterpart to Eurovision after Russia's ban due to the Ukraine conflict, features 23 countries and emphasizes respect for traditional values, as highlighted by President Vladimir Putin's opening message. The competition excludes public voting and is decided by a jury representing participating countries, including Russia's allies and former Soviet republics. The Australian government has imposed extensive sanctions against Russia in response to its actions in Ukraine, which may have influenced the reported political pressure. Vassy is an acclaimed artist with a significant international following and has been recognized for her contributions to electronic dance music.