The ESC’s Antonym: Putin’s Intervision in Moscow

Russia hosted the so-called “Intervision” (ISC) in Moscow on Saturday, 20 September 2025. It is not a new invention, rather a revival of former times. During the Cold War, when West and East were strongly polarised, the contest worked as an Eastern Bloc equivalent to the ESC. It was a musical portrayal of the polarised world - West versus East, Eurovision versus Intervision. With one difference to the poles of power: The United States of America were not a part of the ESC though being a key Western ally.

Dima Bilan, Russian Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008

Russia: From ISC to ESC

Eastern Countries like the Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and even Eastern Germany once participated in the ISC - but only until 1980. Then, as the polarisation between Russia and the US weakened, the ISC as an Eastern alternative became obsolete.

After that, the Russians took part in the Eurovision for the first time ever in 1994. A couple of years later, in 2008, they managed to win with Dima Bilan. However, Russia’s participation was not forever.

After exclusion follows mimicry

Following Russia’s annexation of the Crimea in 2014, the country was booed at the Eurovision semi-final. A first hint of Russia being unwanted at the ESC. Then, Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and the European Broadcasting Union officially excluded Russia from the Eurovision Song Contest. Therefore, Putin decided to relaunch Eurovision’s copy again with the goal to make it even bigger than the original. According to the Russian media outlet Ostorozhno Novosti, the audience at the pre-recording was told to applause louder than people did at the ESC.

The ISC-participants coloured according to their press freedom, the U.S. have withdrawn on the 20th September 2025. Source: rsf

A contest for autocracies and those who are becoming one

Putin’s opening speech at the ISC promised the “unifying power of art”. But the line-up was more telling than his words: Belarus, China, Qatar, Vietnam – countries with little press freedom, as documented by Reporters Without Borders. One announced candidate surprised among the non-western ISC-members: the United States of America.

“It is just music”, does not count as an argument, given that the Intervision is far more than just pop culture and colourful outfits. “Unlike what the contest suggests, he is not apolitical”, says the journalist Anton Hartmann, who experienced the ISC live in Moscow. The Intervision’s political brisance explains why the American candidate Vassy resigned shortly before the contest began.

List of all ISC-candidates; the U.S. had withdrawn shortly before the ISC took place. Source: intervision.world

Contrast to the ESC: Tradition instead of Diversity

This year’s Russian Intervision was supposed to be the clear opposite to the colourful ESC. While the Eurovision Song Contest is an event that promotes unity, diversity and inclusion, the ISC stands for tradition. The Belarusian ISC-performer Nastya Kravchenko surliness the agenda: “I don’t want men in high-heels, fishnet tights and long hair to perform. I think that’s weird.” The Russian star and Intervision candidate Yaroslav Dronov, known as Shaman, embodies this agenda with his song “Ya Russkiy” (“I am Russian”). His music stands for conservative values and for Putin’s ideology: “I am Russian, and I am lucky!”.

Diversity vs. Uniformity

Whereas Eurovision thrives on inclusivity, flamboyant outfits, and queer culture, Moscow’s Intervision wanted to project a conservative counter-model. Both contests speak of diversity, but linked to different terms: Eurovision celebrates diversity in progress and inclusion, the Intervision enforces firm traditional diversity and, after all, Russian propaganda.

The Eurovision in Basel: A flamboyant event (© EBU/ Alma Bengtsson)

“I have experienced the ISC as a big staging of Russia”, resumes Hartmann, and added, “it wasn’t really about the songs.” This could also be seen in the end: Instead of reshowing Duc Phuc´s winning song for Vietnam, all the countries performed a Russian song together. And while the ESC allows millions to vote across borders, the Intervision has mirrored the authoritarian systems of its members. Vietnam won not by audience vote, but by jury decision.