Australian government pressures singer to exit Intervision in Russia – organizers
Canberra reportedly pushed pop star Vassy to drop out of the competition
Singer Vassy performs at Charlotte Pride on August 20, 2016 in North Carolina. © Jeff Hahne / Getty Images
Australia pressured pop star Vassy to withdraw from the Intervision song contest in Moscow at the last moment, its organizers have claimed.
Born Vasiliki Karagiorgos, the singer, who holds both Australian and US citizenship, was slated to represent the US in the televised competition on Saturday.
“For reasons beyond the control of the organizers and the US delegation, and due to unprecedented political pressure from the Australian government, singer Vassy will not be able to perform in the contest’s final show,” the organizers announced on the contest’s website just hours before the event.
They explained that Australia had “issued an official note addressed to the artist” earlier that same day, adding that Intervision “remains outside politics and is dedicated solely to the development of arts and international cooperation.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, a member of the contest’s supervisory board, said the organizers are “not striving for any political effect.”
Vietnam wins revived Intervision song contest in Moscow
Vassy has not commented on her abrupt exit, and Australia has made no public statements regarding her participation.
Singer Brandon Howard was initially set to represent the US but withdrew just days before the event, citing a family emergency. The organizers then announced Vassy as his replacement.
Russia revived Intervision, drawing inspiration from a Soviet-era contest of the same name, after it was banned from Eurovision due to the conflict in Ukraine.
Artists from 22 countries participated in the contest, with Vietnam’s Duc Phuc taking home the prize.