Russia's cultural revival: Intervision returns to the stage
According to RIA, the Russian news agency, after being excluded from Eurovision, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, decided to revive Intervision, a music competition from the Soviet era. The goal is to promote Russian culture and unite countries sympathetic to Russia.
Intervision has its roots in the 1960s and '70s when it was held in Czechoslovakia, replacing the International Song Festival in Sopot. The modern edition holds special significance following Russia's exclusion from Eurovision.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko has been appointed chairman of this year's Intervision organizing committee. Sergei Kiriyenko is overseeing the preparations to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Russia revives Intervision after exclusion from Eurovision
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that more than 25 countries, including some from Latin America, have shown interest in participating in the competition. Mikhail Shvydkoy, Vladimir Putin's special representative for cultural cooperation, added that nearly 20 countries have already confirmed their participation.
The aim of reviving Intervision is to help restore Russia's cultural standing on the international stage. Russia celebrated a Eurovision victory in 2008 when Dima Bilan won with the song "Believe".
Though Intervision was revived only once in 2008, current plans aim to re-establish the contest permanently as an alternative to Eurovision, which could affect Russia's global image. At that time, countries such as Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Armenia participated in the contest. The official list of countries participating in Intervision is expected to be announced soon.
