At a Moscow concert hall, Shohruhmirzo Ganiyev is crooning about love and his motherland, Uzbekistan. 'Put your legs together like a man,' suggests his voice coach and choreographer. 'And spread your arms wider!' It's just a rehearsal, but Shohruhmirzo is singing his heart out. He's performing traditional Uzbek melodies to a modern beat and playing a doira, the ancient drum of Central Asia. Uzbekistan is among 23 countries competing at the Intervision Song Contest. It's Russia's answer to Eurovision. With less kitsch – and more Kremlin.
Intervision 2025 is Vladimir Putin's brainchild. He signed a decree reviving the Soviet-era songfest with the aim of 'developing international cultural and humanitarian co-operation'. The more obvious objective is creating an international song contest in which Moscow can actually take part, especially after being banned from competing in Eurovision post the invasion of Ukraine.
When Team Russia was banned from the Olympic Games, similar alternatives were sought, like the Games of the Future and the World Friendship Games, leading to the debut of Intervision.
The event casts a wide net, including countries like China, India, Brazil, and South Africa—reflecting Russia's political and economic alliances. It serves as a statement that Moscow still has friends on the global stage, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Highlighting a shift from Eurovision's style, the festival emphasizes traditional culture, with national songs set to merge universal values. Entrants range from Vietnam's Duc Phuc to Brazil's Tais Nader, who share their cultural narratives through music.
Yet skepticism remains; some view Intervision as propaganda—a tool for Russia to distract the world from its ongoing aggression in Ukraine, with Ukrainian officials denouncing the event as a means of 'whitewashing' its actions.
Overall, while Intervision 2025 seeks to redefine the narrative surrounding Russian culture through music, it also faces critiques that link it directly to the geopolitical landscape, raising questions about the authenticity of its artistic intentions.
Intervision 2025 is Vladimir Putin's brainchild. He signed a decree reviving the Soviet-era songfest with the aim of 'developing international cultural and humanitarian co-operation'. The more obvious objective is creating an international song contest in which Moscow can actually take part, especially after being banned from competing in Eurovision post the invasion of Ukraine.
When Team Russia was banned from the Olympic Games, similar alternatives were sought, like the Games of the Future and the World Friendship Games, leading to the debut of Intervision.
The event casts a wide net, including countries like China, India, Brazil, and South Africa—reflecting Russia's political and economic alliances. It serves as a statement that Moscow still has friends on the global stage, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Highlighting a shift from Eurovision's style, the festival emphasizes traditional culture, with national songs set to merge universal values. Entrants range from Vietnam's Duc Phuc to Brazil's Tais Nader, who share their cultural narratives through music.
Yet skepticism remains; some view Intervision as propaganda—a tool for Russia to distract the world from its ongoing aggression in Ukraine, with Ukrainian officials denouncing the event as a means of 'whitewashing' its actions.
Overall, while Intervision 2025 seeks to redefine the narrative surrounding Russian culture through music, it also faces critiques that link it directly to the geopolitical landscape, raising questions about the authenticity of its artistic intentions.
