Putin revives Intervision contest to rival Eurovision

Vladimir Putin has officially revived the Intervision song contest, a Soviet-era competition, as a direct response to Russia's expulsion from Eurovision following its invasion of Ukraine. Scheduled for this autumn in Moscow, the contest aims to present an anti-Western alternative, emphasizing 'traditional values' and excluding LGBTQ+ themes and political lyrics. Over 25 nations, including allies like North Korea and Iran, have reportedly expressed interest in participating. Russian officials, including Senator Liliya Gumerova, have criticized Eurovision for its perceived decadence, claiming that Intervision will promote 'real music' and counter 'fake values.' This initiative reflects Putin's broader strategy to position Russia as a defender of conservative cultural norms against Western individualism. The original Intervision contest ran from the 1960s to the 1980s but failed to gain significant traction.