The Eurovision song contest was not shown on Russian television for the second consecutive year because the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes Eurovision, had banned Russian participation in the competition last year as a protest against its horrific invasion of Ukraine.

In protest, Russia’s Channel One and Ostankino Radio station have left the EBU.

Last weekend, the main Russian TV show, Vesti Ndeli, hosted Dmitriy Kizelev, who is on the EU’s blacklist, did not even mention it.

“The time for bullshit has passed. “Now that this contest has shown that it’s nothing, I think we shouldn’t mention it at any point,” Russian music critic Sergei Sosedov stated in a separate statement.

Other mainstream media, like Ria Novosti or Tsargrad slammed the event as an utter failure and a spectacle Western decadence.

“Total Bacchanalia – How is the Eurovision Song Contest without Russia going? “, was the title for an article in Ria Novosti.

The article highlighted the Croatians and Germans for their cross-dressing appearances, noting that Croatians wore “bright makeup” and “panties”, whereas a German vocalist wore “dyed eyes” and a “latex-red tight-fitting suit”.

The article also emphasized the fact that the Finnish singer “ride around the stage on dancers”.

In another Ria Novosti article, it was noted that Hungary and Turkey did not enter the contest because of its “gay Agenda”.

Tsargrad was the one who really went all out in Russia’s cultural war against Western values by naming “five of its most disgusting songs” at a show that took place “where, thank goodness, the Russians did not go.”

It suggested that the songs “should only broadcast on special sites for Perverts”.

“If you look at the favorites, ‘Eurovision-2023,’ is built on three pillars – Satanism, Blood, and Bestiality. “Like, in principle, any contemporary European politics,” the report said.

Denmark, Finland Croatia, Germany and the Czech Republic were the five acts that were singled out.

It said that the Danish singer was “a handsome boy” who “dressed like a Barbie doll”, while Finland’s male musician “transforms (it must have been impossible to win Eurovision) without it”.

Tsargrad stated that the German song “Blood & Glitter” sounds very similar with Blood & Hitler.

It also said that “They represent demons from hell, jumping in high heels and shining their buttocks, spilling the blood, and sprinkling gold sequins on themselves.”

The Czech act was “full devilish images flashing against icons.” Orthodox, naturally” and “Slavic Identity” was represented as “bloody porridge”, eaten by the heroine in its video clip.

Even before Russia suspended Eurovision last year, Russian propaganda had been targeting Eurovision for years, for the same reasons.

Why does Russian media and TV smear their Eurovision presentation with homophobia, anti-EU propaganda, and other inflammatory remarks? The short answer is because it’s very easy, and it checks off a lot of boxes on the propaganda checklist,” said Lukas Androukaitis from the US think-tank, the Atlantic Council.

“This year we also had a bunch wacky and colourful performances like Sweden or Finland which could be easily twisted to say that this is “LGBTQI propagandist”,” Andriukaitis stated.

“Eurovision acts tend to be sexualised and emotional, with people wearing shocking outfits or outfits that do not cover much, which helps to visualise the moral decay of Western society,” he said.

Since the Kremlin launched its values war with the West, some 10 years ago, this type of content is now standard in Russian media.

In 2014, after the annexation of Crimea by Russia, Russian propaganda pageants depicted the West in the form of a black devil who raped virginal mother Russia.

In his speech about the annexation last year of four more Ukrainian provinces, Russian President Vladimir Putin also promised that he would save Russians from transgender bogeymen.

Russian venom

But the Ukraine invasion, and the EU sanctions that followed on Russia, have added a new layer to Russia’s view of Eurovision.

“Russia and Russians should close down the topic of “Eurovision” forever, as it is unworthy of discussion. They should instead focus on their own competition in which they sing in Russian,” suggested one of the Ria Novosti’s articles, mirroring Russia’s efforts to create economic autonomy.

The Russian media made fun of the fact that Eurovision had less entries than in previous years due to financial reasons.

The Swedish act was accused of plagiarism repeatedly.

It suggested that EBU wanted to win back its two Russian members, because it needed their cash. This was done by preventing Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky from making a speech.

Even if this was true, Eurovision 2023 would still be remembered for “… how Kyiv attempted to use the European Music Contest for propaganda”, according to another Ria Novosti article.

“At the opening ceremony of the Finals in 2023. [Ukraininan singer] Verka Serdiutchka sang Dancing Lasha Tumbai and loudly declared to the world, “Russia, goodbye!” The article complained that Verka Serdiutchka performed her song Dancing Lasha Tumbai, where she loudly declared to the world: ‘Russia, goodbye!

“It was a sound track, so the organizers knew what would be said on stage,” added the report.

According to a conspiracy story, Finland and Sweden’s popularity was due to their joining Nato.

It claimed that Sweden’s victory was compensation for the delay in its Nato membership due to Turkish objections.

“Sweden gave the contest as a support.” “You’re not in Nato but we’re still with you,” said the article by Ria Novosti.

The report added that “ordinary taxpayers in Europe have grown tired of this topic as outrage over the monstrous expenditure of the EU in support of Kyiv grows in every country.”

Yury Loza, a Russian singer, said: “It’s a political contest paid for by the British.”

The EBU refused to answer EUobserver’s questions about whether Eurovision is now a de facto celebration for LGBTI values, or if the existing members have any obligation to curb hate speech.

According to the official EBU guidelines Eurovision is supposed to be a politically-free zone.

Andriukaitis is the Atlantic Council’s expert in propaganda. He says that it has always had a “political layer”.

He said that if the Kremlin tries to portray Eurovision as an anti-Russian plot, it is missing the point. Eurovision politics is a reflection on the democratic freedoms of expression in Europe.

Andriukaitis, EUobserver, said that “the points that the countries provide often reflect political events.”

“People gave Ukraine points due to the war as an expression of support,” said he.