VGTRK has informed esckaz that preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 will begin after New Year’s programming is prepared.

VGTRK will begin their preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in the coming months. The broadcaster informed esckaz that preparations for the contest in Tel Aviv, Israel will begin once it has finished preparing for its New Year’s programming.

Russia alternates responsibility for participation in the Eurovision Song Contest between Channel One and VGTRK. VGTRK takes on responsibility for organising the Russian entry for Eurovision in 2019, due to Channel One having organised Russia’s participation in 2018. Previously Channel One had organised participation in odd numbered years and VGTRK in even numbered years.

Russia finished 15th in the second semi-final scoring 65 points from the public and juries. The country finished 17th in the jury vote with 14 points and 11th with the public on 51 points. Julia Samoylova who represented Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 revealed after the contestthat she had considered withdrawing from the competition in the run up to the show in Lisbon.

Source: escKaz

Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest Russia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 and has gone on to be one of the most successful countries in the contest. Since the mid-00s Russia has had a string of strong results including their first and only victory to date in 2008. Dima Bilan won the contest in Belgrade, Serbia with the song “Believe” taking the contest to Moscow the following year. In the 2015 and 2016, Russia finished in 2nd and 3rd place respectively in the final.