Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement and answers to media questions at a news conference on Intervision International Music Contest, Moscow, September 16, 2025
16 September 2025 17:09
1479-16-09-2025
It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Foreign Ministry Mansion for a news conference dedicated to Intervision International Music Contest.
We are holding this news conference in response to the lively interest in this event. The media commented on it widely. The contest will take place on September 20 at the Live Arena concert venue. General Director of Channel One Konstantin Ernst can share more about it, if you ask him to discuss preparations for this event.
First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergey Kiriyenko heads the contest's Supervisory Board. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko heads the Organising Committee in accordance with the Presidential executive order, and the Foreign Ministry has been instructed to provide support in interactions with our international colleagues.
The idea to hold this event was first put forward a couple of years ago by a civil society organisation named Foundation for the Preservation and Support of Cultural Heritage and Promotion of National and World Culture "Traditions of Art" (also known as the Traditions of Art Foundation). The foundation is preserving cultural, religious, spiritual and ethical traditions and we are helping them on behalf of the state.
On September 12, at plenary session of the 11th St Petersburg International United Cultures Forum, President Putin once again presented the Intervision contest as a vibrant event that will fill up the global cultural space, and is already filling it with engaging reports and news.
President Putin noted that an equal dialogue and respect for national traditions and cultural identity of each country is what matters most which approach, without a doubt, finds a lively response in the hearts of the people around the world, not just the countries whose representatives are going to take part in the contest.
Our Ministry assists the organisers in bringing international participants onboard. Performing artists from 23 countries - Russia, the CIS, BRICS, the SCO, Africa, Asia and Latin America - will take part in the contest. Europe and the United States will be represented by one artist each.
On September 12, a colourful drawing ceremony took place at Rossiya National Centre. I'm sure many of you watched it. The drawing of lots was used to determine the order of performances. Cuba will open the show, and India will close it, which is quite symbolic. This order shows the global reach of Intervision. Russia (Yaroslav Dronov aka Shaman) will perform under number 9.
The contestants will perform songs in their national languages as was agreed in advance. Hopefully, the audience and thousands and thousands, millions of viewers around the world - the show will be broadcast on almost all continents - will sense the atmosphere of harmony, mutual respect and friendship.
In addition to the performing artists who are already in Moscow, we are expecting honorary guests from the participating countries. I'm convinced that the guests and the audience members will get the most colourful impressions. At least, the Traditions of Art Foundation and the organisations represented here are doing their best to make it happen, and to make sure that this event gets seared in people's memories and leaves the best impressions.
Question: Is there a plan to make the Eurovision banner transferable in some sense, so that people can not only visit us but we will also be able to visit other countries in future for semi-finals and qualifying events?
Sergey Lavrov: The Intervision banner, correct?
Question: Of course, the Intervision banner.
Sergey Lavrov: You said "Eurovision."
Question: You see - the devil's led me astray. One more question. Konstantin Ernst has already spoken about the voting system. This is interesting because, after years of working on another contest, we faced unfairness there - when audiences awarded our country, among other favourites, the maximum points, yet the jury turned everything upside down. We all hope this time everything will be fair and honest. Will it?
Sergey Lavrov: Regarding the first part of the question. Interest in this project is substantial. Twenty-three countries are participating alongside Russia, with more having expressed interest. We imposed no restrictions.
We are pleased that all continents will be represented - except Australia. The Australians have their own affairs. Several of our colleagues have already shown interest in hosting the contest next year or in two years' time. Following the well-trodden path of the Games of the Future, I hope we can make this an annual event. At the very least, as mentioned, there is clear interest. There is every reason to build on the experience accumulated in Moscow - including broadcast logistics and fan zones (many regions have expressed interest in organising these). Demand for such elements is high.
I hope we will soon announce - if not during the final, then shortly after - where the next contest is planned and which country has extended the invitation.
On the voting system: we consulted with Channel One, which has experience in voting mechanisms, including those used in KVN (Club of the Merry and Quick-Witted), which I consider among the most democratic.
But this is the first contest. We are reviving the Soviet-era Intervision, yet we must account for contemporary realities. It was agreed that the jury will comprise representatives from each participating country. The proposed voting system has been universally accepted. Further adjustments will be overseen by the organisers - primarily the Art Traditions Foundation, which proposed this initiative with the backing of the President of Russia. Innovation demands both lessons from past experiences and creative solutions.
Question: Technically, how will the Intervision broadcast differ from our flagship broadcasts - such as those for Victory Day or Navy Day?
Sergey Lavrov (adding after Konstantin Ernst): Let me reveal a secret. During preparatory discussions, Konstantin Ernst admitted that television viewers will see far more than the live audience at Live Arena.
Question: How would you assess preparations for Intervision? Has the Russian Foreign Ministry facilitated simplified visa issuance for participants and spectators?
Sergey Lavrov: Regarding the Foreign Ministry's role in preparations, I thank colleagues for acknowledging our efforts.
We have a Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations. Its director, Alexander Alimov, is present here. The overseeing Deputy Minister, Aleksandr Pankin, has been actively supporting the Art Traditions Foundation, working closely with them while leaving creative matters to the organisers. Everyone here has provided robust assistance.
Visas were issued to participants, guests, and foreign journalists covering the event under the most streamlined, convenient, and gratuitous procedures.
We coordinated a special customs regime with the Federal Customs Service of Russia, which has been positively received by those arriving for the contest.
Question: You mentioned that one representative from the United States and one from Europe are among the contest participants. In your view, is this many or few? Or is this indeed considerable given current circumstances? Were there other candidates? If countries on the unfriendly nations list wished to participate, what would they need to do to join?
Sergey Lavrov: We are gradually moving away from the term "unfriendly countries," though it remains in our legislation. However, as President Vladimir Putin recently emphasised during an event in Vladivostok, for us there are no unfriendly countries - only nations whose governments pursue unfriendly policies toward the Russian Federation.
As for whether this is many or few - we did not approach participant selection from such a perspective. As my colleagues have noted, the quality is exceptional. For us, what matters most is that participants bring with them their culture, their sense of life, their spiritual traditions, and their ethical and moral values. This has been achieved. The rehearsals held so far have confirmed it.
I would prefer not to name individuals whose own governments prevented them from attending. Firstly, this is their private matter. We do not wish to complicate matters for them. Those who wanted to come know full well they are always welcome here. Twenty-three countries for the final is an optimal number.
We shall not speculate about future contests. If participation grows, the competition structure may need refining - perhaps national selections followed by regional rounds. That is a matter for the future. For now, the priority is to ensure the audience enjoys the spectacle being prepared for them.
Question: Why did Armenia not participate this year? Are there any arrangements for Armenian contestants to join in next year's or future editions?
Sergey Lavrov: Our Armenian friends were well aware of the contest. The question of why no representative of Armenian culture is among the participants is not for us to answer. We would have been delighted to welcome everyone, including our Armenian friends.
Question: Could Intervision become a long-term instrument of soft power, consolidating not so much around Russia as around the idea of sovereignty and resistance to the Westernisation of musical and cultural spaces? What is the fundamental difference between this music contest and Eurovision?
Sergey Lavrov: We are not pursuing any political effect. Our aim is for humanity's original purpose and identity to be respected and realised through free interaction with others, enriching one another by engaging with each other's spiritual values. The way participants - already in Moscow - spend time together, rehearsing at various venues and exploring the capital's beauty, demonstrates that this is something they value. I am confident they will later share their experiences, thus further boosting interest in the contest.
The concept of soft power was introduced long ago - not by us, but primarily by our American colleagues, Hollywood, and the US Agency for International Development, which was recently disbanded by the Trump administration. All of this is soft power. In Soviet times, we had experience with the House of Friendship with Peoples of Foreign Countries. Should this be seen as an attempt to achieve political results? Perhaps. But at its core lies friendship. Today, we meet those who studied in the USSR and later in the Russian Federation, as well as those involved in friendship society initiatives. The sincerity of their satisfaction with these enduring bonds is plain to see. If this influences the policies of their respective nations' leaderships, then so be it - but it is the result of genuine engagement, not ultimatums.
I saw a video by one of the leaders of Cirque du Soleil, speaking enthusiastically about Intervision and expressing a desire to attend. Now, we see art and sports being weaponised in political struggles.
We are criticised: "You dislike Eurovision because you're barred from it - hence you invented Intervision." A year ago, they said Russia invented the Games of the Future and BRICS Games after being excluded from the Olympics. Let those with such a mindset draw their own conclusions. At the World Youth Festival and the Games of the Future, I observed participants taking pride in showcasing their traditions and culture on international platforms - platforms free from discrimination or the imposition of modern reinterpretations, like the rewriting of The Last Supper we witnessed at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. This alone has a positive impact on them. If so, we are glad to foster the natural, God-given human capacity for goodwill.
Question: You mentioned that the Intervision contest will be broadcast on almost all continents. Will the broadcast be translated? If so, into what languages? Will just the ceremony be translated, or songs will be, too?
Sergey Lavrov: As earlier agreed, the songs will be performed in national languages (the Traditions of Art Foundation came up with this initiative). To be specific, it's up to the performers. Songs may be performed in a foreign language, but songs in the national language are preferred. Most of the artists will do just that. I'm not sure the lyrics need translation. The music and the vibes created by a performer is what matters most.
Speaking of the broadcast, Konstantin Ernst maintains contacts with many of his colleagues, and most of them have appointed a national broadcaster.
Question: How is Intervision different from Eurovision? Some people in the West are saying there's an element of politics in Eurovision. However, today we see the Kremlin, the Presidential Executive Office, the Foreign Ministry and the Government present here. Isn't this a telling sign that Intervision is a purely geopolitical project?
Sergey Lavrov: In some countries, governments are formed following their own guidelines, and governments do not create special mechanisms to support culture. That's their choice. In the United States and in your country, the United Kingdom, there are no people's artists or merited artists. An artist is an artist. We have this tradition. The state supports arts, theatre, and the cinema industry.
Your question betrays your fear of competition. Remember, some in the West were up in arms against the Games of the Future when they cleansed the Olympics of strong Russian competitors, and then saw that Russia made the Games of the Future no less significant than the Olympic Games and just as popular. Then, they, including the International Association of Athletics Federations headed by your compatriot Sebastian Coe, planned to ban the athletes who took part in the Games of the Future and the BRICS Games from participating in the Olympic Games.
One must not forget that what we are doing is diametrically opposite to the attempts to use sports, art, and any other human activities for political gains. True, people from other countries get to know us better through events like the World Festival of Youth and Students, the Games of the Future, the BRICS Games, Intervision, and other cultural projects, and they get along with us better than those who ignore us and avoid communication, as almost all of Europe is doing now.
As opposed to the US Agency for International Development, we are not looking to gain leverage over other governments. What the Trump administration has done with it shows that this administration is not willing to use these tools for purposes that eventually come to the surface and clearly show that someone is meddling in other countries' internal affairs.
There is no point in being afraid of competition. If someone enjoys watching Eurovision, they can do so in our country. We do not ban anyone from watching it. However, this does not mean that alternative approaches to preserving traditions and national cultures, as well as religious, spiritual and moral constructs that we have inherited from our ancestors over many centuries and decades, have no place in our life. If this enjoys great demand, that only makes up happy. But we do not dispute the right of the jury or Eurovision viewers to vote for a bearded man in a dress, or sporting other body modifications.
Question: Thank you for putting together a cultural programme for the Intervision participants. We are already witnessing a dialogue of cultures. The artists are creating new songs sitting in their hotel rooms in the evenings. Will you support this kind of new diplomacy, if the participants decide to engage in such collaborative efforts?
Sergey Lavrov: We will support any and all cultural initiatives. I have great respect for Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko who pays great attention to sports, culture, and other public projects that he is in charge of.
I believe that communication and contacts between people are critically important so that everyone has a chance to have their own perspective on what they are being told. There's nothing democratic about telling people that Russia is so and so, so don't go there and don't ever talk to Russians.
Question: Many Vietnamese are quite familiar with the Soviet Intervision. This is our first time participating in Intervision in Russia. Mr Lavrov, why did you decide to bring back Intervision at this particular moment, and how is it different from previous Intervision and other music contests?
Sergey Lavrov: I think Mr Ernst is better positioned to answer your question, but I want to say why now. Just about any initiative can elicit this kind of question.
If we take the global context, interpersonal communication is in great demand, more than ever. There are attempts to split us and to build new walls to separate us. Visa regulations are introduced to prevent people from visiting Western countries. With these headwinds in mind, interpersonal communication will consolidate the positive and natural trends in evolution of humanity, which, in the grand scheme of things, wants to live a peaceful and prosperous life, and have the opportunity to communicate and to get familiar with other cultures.
What's the difference? I have no idea. We have a Eurasian film award called Diamond Butterfly. Someone wondered how it is different from the Oscars. It's a different film award. Why has no one ever tried to pit the Oscars against Cannes? Just because these are Western products, and they get along quite well. However, a product that emerges outside the Western classical cultural framework immediately raises a question: where does this decision come from? Why don't they knock on our doors at Cannes, or the Oscars? Truth be told, there, too, discrimination has got going. You know, our Chinese friends have a saying: let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend.... Let viewers make their own choices.
Question: What is the significance of the participation of four Latin American countries in Intervision?
Sergey Lavrov: I believe this underscores our positive relations with Latin American nations and their keen interest in deepening and expanding these ties. These countries - Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil - represent all regions of Latin America, each with its own distinct culture, which enjoys considerable popularity here. Therefore, we eagerly await their contributions. We have four Latin American countries, four Arab nations, three African states, five from our shared CIS space, the United States, and Europe. I consider this a representative lineup. We did not aim to impose quotas by continent or region, yet interest has been expressed fairly evenly from all corners.
Question: Why is this international contest so important, and what is its purpose? How were these artists selected? Was there a special procedure?
Sergey Lavrov: Regarding the second question, I have already explained. This concerns the revival of the contest. An agreement was reached to ensure greater transparency. Each country was free to adopt its own procedure - be it a national competition or public polling. Every participating nation chose its preferred method.
As for the first question, it seems to me that initiatives fostering civilisational dialogue and contact are always timely. President of China Xi Jinping has previously outlined four initiatives, including those pertaining to humanity's shared future. The revival of Intervision aligns with the need to recognise art and culture as integral to this common destiny.
Question: Why is it important for Russia to host this event? Do you view it as part of Russia's soft power?
Sergey Lavrov: I did not mention soft power. That was referenced by your colleague on the right or someone else, asking whether we consider it as such. We want Russia and the Russian people to be known.
We regard the barriers erected by the collective West - particularly the role played by the administration of Joe Biden - as detrimental. So, if by soft power you mean the opportunity to make oneself understood, then yes, we are interested.
In Soviet times, the Party and government made decisions to promote a positive image of Russia abroad. Today, we must advance an objective portrayal. We want to be known with all our merits and shortcomings. Indeed, some of our perceived shortcomings provoke envy among many foreign counterparts.
Question: It is a delight to see the Intervision banners featuring the Kremlin and Red Square fly in New York. However, the Western media keep needling us. The Guardian posted an article about Russia allegedly dusting off the old contest, meaning that Intervision has not been held since 1980. Other Western media are coming up with unflattering articles as well. What do you make of it? Maybe it's just their way to vent frustration, since they are not coming?
Sergey Lavrov: Someone is trying to accuse Russia of pulling weapons out of a chest. Did The Guardian post that? Don't the British have anything left to blow the dust off? Nothing, apparently. Unfortunately, they keep thwarting contacts between people.
We keep coming back to the same topic. We are for communication and for getting to know each other better. The overwhelming majority of people from foreign countries who come to Moscow for the first time go home with positive impressions. Therefore, the governments of these countries are doing the wrong thing when they take the opportunity to communicate with other people away from their citizens, and it doesn't do any good to the Western civilisation.
Question: Many in the West think that Intervision is a conservative alternative to Eurovision. Is that so? What's the difference and what's the message?
Sergey Lavrov: We've been asked these questions several times during the news conference. I'd rather not go over it again and again. Watch the broadcast and you will know the difference.
Question: I have a question about the US participant. Do you think this is a sign of a warming of Russia-US relations? You said during the new conference that this will be a free contest. Are there any aesthetic or value-based restrictions for the participants? Perhaps, barriers stemming from the Russian legislation, or something else?
Sergey Lavrov: These are not restrictions, but rather criteria for presenting national culture and traditions. A participant from the United States will come. The US administration did not object to that, but said it would be a private visit by a particular performer. We want things to calm down a little. There has been a lot of speculation on this matter. There will be a participant from the US. The US administration will not be represented in the jury and will not send an official delegation, but there will be a performing artist from the United States.
Question: I would like to preface my question with a quote from Dmitry Likhachev's famous policy paper Ecology of Culture. The second quote is from Sergey Lavrov who said, "Intervision is first and foremost about communication."
Here's a question from an environmentalist. How do you see Intervision in terms of implementing the principles of sustainable development, such as overcoming poverty and environmental protection, to name a few. Sustainable development is of major interest today. I would like to hear what you have to say.
Sergey Lavrov: If we use the term, then probably Intervision and what we cited as an example - Games of the Future, BRICS Games, World Festival of Youth and Students and others - contribute to sustainable personal development. Sustainable from the point of view of the traditions that our forefathers had been laying down for centuries, millennia, and which reflect the soul of our multiethnic nation. In this sense, yes.
Question: Colombia is among the Latin American countries that are participating in the contest. Is it because it is part of the BRICS New Development Bank? Is it possible for the Intervision contest to be held not only in Russia, but other countries as well?
Sergey Lavrov: We, indeed, began, in conjunction with the Traditions of Art Foundation, discussing groups of participants from BRICS Plus and SCO Plus, but then countries outside these associations, including Colombia, showed interest. We are happy, because a very good performing artist is coming from Colombia.
With regard to our future plans, we said there were such plans at the top of the news conference. Several countries that will be represented at Intervision in Russia are interested in continuing this tradition. Consultations are in their final stage. I think the outcomes will be announced soon.
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