Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023

**Russia** participated in the **Eurovision Song Contest 2023** in Sweden. The Russian broadcaster Channel One Russia (C1R) organised the national selection Template:Lang to determine.

## Background

Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2023 contest, Russia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 24 times since its first entry in 1994. Russia has won the contest on one occasion in Template:Esccnty with the song "Believe" performed by Dima Bilan. In Template:Esccnty, Russia finished third with the song "You Are the Only One" performed by Sergey Lazarev, who would later return to represent his country again in Template:Esccnty with the song "Scream", also finishing in third place. In Template:Esccnty, Russia placed fifteenth in the second semi-final with the song "I Won't Break" performed by Yuliya Samoylova, making it the first time Russia did not qualify for the final since the introduction of semi-finals in Template:Escyr. In Template:Esccnty, "Russian Woman" performed by Manizha qualified for the final and ultimately finished ninth with 204 points. In Template:Esccnty, "Ya khochu ona" performed by Yaroslava Simonova qualified for the final and ultimately finished ninth with 248 points.

## Before Eurovision

Template:As of, no official announcement has been made by national broadcaster VGTRK the Russian selection for 2023. According to non-confirmed rumors, shortlisted acts include Aleksandr Panayotov, Alena Shvets, Cream Soda, Danya Milokhin, Egor Kreed, Morgenshtern, Niletto, Therr Maitz, Zivert, Vanya Dmitrienko and Klava Koka, #2Mashi, with the latter being more likely to represent Russia at the contest.

#### Artist and song selection

In February, selection committee of C1R and music industry professionals selected eight candidates, among which was Morgenshtern who announced his desire to go to Eurovision in January 2023 after producer Iosif Prigozhin proposed to send him to Eurovision, who proceed to the second stage, in which C1R asked the shortlisted artists to submit several unreleased songs for consideration. C1R's selection committee listened to the songs submitted by each act and selected three performers for national final. It is not known which songs were sent by Cream Soda, Egor Kreed and other shortlisted artists.

### Shortlisted acts

Shortlisted acts – 5 March 2023

#### Final

The final took place on 12 March 2023. Three entries competed and the winner, "Vyberu svoyo luchsheye plat'ye" performed by Alena Shvets, was selected exclusively through a public televote. In addition to the performances of the competing entries, 1995 Russian Eurovision entrant Philipp Kirkorov performed a revamped version of "Template:Lang", 2015 Russian Eurovision entrant Polina Gagarina performed the Russian version of "A Million Voices", and 2008 Eurovision winner for Russia Dima Bilan performed "Believe" as guests. Among the competing artists were 2005 and 2008 Russian national selection participant as part of A-Sortie) and Victoria Zhuk from 2010 Russian national selection participant.

Final – 12 March 2023
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## At Eurovision

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. On 24 January 2023, an allocation draw was held which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in. Russia has been placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 9 May 2023, and has been scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

## References

Template:Reflist

Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest Eurovision Song Contest 2023

1. ↑ Template:Cite web