Petitions calling for the removal of Austria’s Eurovision entry have received thousands of signatures.

Drag artist Conchita Wurst, real name Tom Neuwirth, is set to represent Austria in two weeks’ time, with ballad ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’.

However, petitions launched in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, all of whom enter the contest, are calling for the entry to be disqualified, or edited out of the broadcast in their country.

According to Reuters, the Russian petition calls on state broadcaster to refuse to air the contest.

It reads: “Austria will be represented in the Eurovision 2014 by the transvestite contestant Conchita Wurst who leads the lifestyle inapplicable for the Russians.

“The popular international competition that our children will be watching has become a hotbed of sodomy at the initiation of the European liberals.

“Russia is one of the only European countries that has managed to maintain normal and healthy family values based on love and mutual support between MEN and WOMEN.

“That is why we are against the Eurovision 2014 to be broadcast in Russia.”

Wurst will perform in the second semi-final, to be held on May 8.

If successful, she will advance to the grand final on May 10, which the UK’s entrant, Molly Smitten-Downes, automatically qualifies for.

Three Russian gay couples are set to marry in host city Copenhagen during the week of the contest.

Watch the video for ‘Rise Like A Phoenix’ below: