Australian-born singer Vassy will represent the United States at Russia’s answer to Eurovision after R&B artist B. Howard pulled out just days before the competition, organizers said Wednesday.
Called Intervision, the upcoming event revives a Soviet-era alternative to Eurovision that briefly ran in the 1960s and 1970s. Russia was banned from Eurovision in February 2022 following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Vassy, whose real name is Vasiliki Karagiorgos, was born in Australia to Greek immigrants, but she obtained U.S. citizenship during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Her website describes her as “one of the most recognizable figures” in electronic dance music, citing collaborations with DJs David Guetta and Tiësto. In 2023, she became the first woman to win the ICON award at the Electronic Dance Music Awards.
The exiled news website Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on Wednesday that mentions of Vassy’s advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights had recently been removed from her Wikipedia page.
Howard, originally slated to perform for the U.S., withdrew for what organizers said were “family reasons.”
Intervision begins on Sept. 20, branding itself as a “depoliticized” celebration of music. However, President Vladimir Putin personally appointed senior Kremlin officials to the competition’s board and organizing committee.
Dozens of other countries are expected to participate in this year’s competition.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
