FACTBOX - Russia revives Soviet-era Intervision song contest

ISTANBUL

Russia has revived the “Intervision” international song contest, a Cold War-era project once seen as the socialist bloc’s answer to Eurovision, staging its 2025 debut in Moscow with Vietnam’s Duc Phuc crowned the winner.

Intervision first ran from 1965 to 1968 in Czechoslovakia before being relaunched in 1977 in Sopot, Poland, under the International Radio and Television Organization (OIRT).

It folded in 1980 amid political turmoil in Poland, waning popularity and the rise of Western pop culture. The collapse of the Soviet Union later erased the project from the cultural map.

Russian broadcasters attempted revivals in the 2000s, including a 2008 “Five Stars: Intervision” festival in Sochi, but no permanent format emerged.

Moscow’s new push follows Russia’s exclusion from Eurovision in 2022 after the start of the Ukraine war. In January 2025, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree establishing Intervision as a state-backed permanent alternative.

The debut edition brought together 23 delegations. Duc Phuc won with Phu Dong Thien Vuong, collecting 422 points and a prize of 30 million rubles (about $360,000). Kyrgyz trio NOMAD and Qatar’s Dana Al-Mir took second and third place.

Russia’s own entrant, Yaroslav Dronov -- known as Shaman -- performed but asked not to be ranked, saying it would be “unfair” for the host to win.

The contest also drew controversy after US-born singer Vassy was excluded. Organizers cited “pressure” from Australian authorities over her dual citizenship. Canberra denied involvement, and Vassy said she was “still in shock.”

The show closed with Russian stars Dima Bilan and Polina Gagarina performing before all delegations joined in a multilingual rendition of A Million Voices.

Putin addressed the event in a video message, while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended in person and announced Saudi Arabia as host of the 2026 edition.