On 3 February, Putin signed a decree instructing officials to relaunch the Soviet-era “Intervision Song Contest”, a former Eastern Bloc response to Eurovision, after Russia was banned from the European music competition in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine. The contest would take place in Moscow later this year, with the stated goal of “developing international cultural and humanitarian cooperation.”
The contest, originally held between the 1960s and 1980s under the leadership of Leonid Brezhnev, served as a musical alternative for Soviet-aligned nations during the Cold War. Hosted in Poland and Czechoslovakia, it featured participants from both Eastern Europe and allied nations such as Cuba. Finland, which maintained neutrality during the Cold War, uniquely participated in both Eurovision and Intervision. The contest faded into obscurity in the early 1980s due to political unrest in Poland and the collapse of Soviet influence.
Unlike Eurovision, which celebrates artistic diversity and extravagant performances, Intervision is expected to adopt a more restrained and traditional approach. Participants will have up to four minutes to perform in any language and the winner will receive prize money and a concert tour. Official documents also specify that contestants must “respect cultural, ethical and religious traditions of other peoples of the world.”
Official documents suggest that the contest will emphasize respect for “traditional universal, spiritual and family values”, with strict rules against political themes in lyrics. Russian senator Liliya Gumerova said that Intervision would promote “real music” and reject “fake values that are alien to any normal person”.
The new version of Intervision is expected to reflect Putin’s broader ideological shift towards conservatism and opposition to what Russian officials describe as the “decadent” values of the West. In recent years, Russian politicians and state media have criticised Eurovision for its embrace of LGBTQ+ representation and flamboyant performances. The 2014 victory of Austrian drag artist Conchita Wurst was another point when Putin wanted to revive Intervision, but the plan did not end up materialising at the time.
Presidential envoy Mikhail Shvydkoi has claimed that nearly 20 countries have agreed to participate in the revived contest, including members of the BRICS bloc (Brazil, India, China, and South Africa) as well as other nations Russia considers “friendly”, such as Cuba.
Despite Putin’s push to revive Intervision, some analysts question the viability of the project. Besides the previous failed attempt in 2014, other attempts to establish alternative large-scale cultural and sporting events, such as Russia’s planned “Friendship Games” as a response to Olympic bans, have also failed to gain traction without Western participation.
