In Russia, work is underway to organize the “Intervision” music competition, said Alexander Alimov, head of the Foreign Ministry’s department for multilateral humanitarian cooperation and cultural relations. He explained that the foreign policy department helps to establish international contacts.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is assisting the organizers of the competition in establishing contacts with countries that are invited to participate in this event. We will continue this work,” RIA Novosti quotes the diplomat.

According to him, the department is now working on organizational, technical and creative aspects of connecting partner countries. Alimov noted that there is significant interest in Intervision and expressed confidence that “it will be a resounding success.”

He added that Beijing has already appointed a representative responsible for China's participation in the song competition. According to the diplomat, Moscow expects similar steps from the other states participating in the event. Alimov clarified that “at this stage” only friendly countries are showing interest in the competition.

The proposal to create a music competition “Intervision”, as well as an open Eurasian film festival and film award, was made by the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova during the St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum in November 2023. Then the general director of Channel One, Konstantin Ernst, proposed holding the competition in 2024. According to him, the event will become a platform “where all countries will be able to present samples of their popular music.” Ernst said that Moscow will count on the active participation of the BRICS countries.

Special Representative of the Russian President for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy expressed the opinion that seven participating countries will be enough to hold Intervision in 2024. At the same time, in a conversation with Izvestia, he stated that the authors of the idea want to move away from the English-language nature of the project, so that the compositions are performed in national languages.

“Why should we create an alternative to Eurovision, when we can create something good and our own, which will exist according to slightly different laws... It is clear that in this huge, multipolar world, there are different song traditions and different popular music,” - Shvydkoy noted.

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Russian industry experts supported the initiative to create a competition. Thus, music critic Evgeny Babichev, in a conversation with RT, noted that Intervision, subject to a number of conditions, can become a successful international event. The main criteria, in his opinion, are a serious approach to organizing the event, a professional team, as well as a significant financial contribution.

In turn, singer Maria Katz suggested: “At first, there probably won’t be very many (foreign artists. - 

RT

). Then they will slowly sway. I am convinced that this division of the world from us, and us from the world, cannot last long.”

Music producer Joseph Prigozhin, on the contrary, is convinced that artists from all over the world will come to Russia to participate in the competition if they are motivated financially.

“Every festival in the world pays the artists. What is the point of the festival? For an artist to come from America or Europe and just get airtime on Channel One? When the goal is money, interest increases. Money rules the whole world. Therefore, when it comes to money, we can definitely be sure that all representatives of Western countries will run here like little ones,” said RT’s interlocutor.

“It is important that the competition is independent and unbiased, non-political. It doesn’t matter who wins, but it’s important that the whole world can see it. Each participant will come with their own PR specialist, who will promote this cause in their country,” the producer said. “In general, if you invest $50 million in such a competition, it will be in demand and will attract advertisers and sponsors who will be ready to invest in the project for a certain marketing package.”

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, during a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the CIS in December 2023, confirmed that the first Intervision is planned to be held in 2024. He added that the rules of the music competition will be developed together with partner countries. According to the head of the Cabinet of Ministers, representatives from different countries will be selected as the jury of the event.

“I am confident that the song competition will become a bright and extraordinary musical celebration for all our citizens,” Mishustin noted.

In February 2022, Russia was suspended from participating in the Eurovision international song contest. The leadership of the European Broadcasting Union explained their decision by saying that the inclusion of the country in the list of participants against the backdrop of the crisis in Ukraine “would undermine the reputation of the event.”