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Russian Eurovision Competitor Chosen
Pop singer Dima Bilan has been chosen to represent Russia with his song “Believe Me” at Eurovision 2008 song contest in Belgrade May 24. He was chosen after viewers and a jury voted at a televised concert of contenders in Moscow on March 9. Singer Sergey Lazarev was the runner up, with 48 points to Bilan's 54. Twenty-five contenders appeared at that concert to compete for the honor of appearing at the European song contest. They were chosen from 170 original applicants.
The initial stage of the competition was open to all, so established performers such as the group A Studio and singer Alexander Panayotov took part in the elimination concert alongside group receiving their first exposure to a wide audience. Bilan represented Russia at the 2006 Eurovision competition in Athens, where he received the silver medal. Russian viewers will recognize the Georgian participant in this years contest as well. Georgian citizen Diana Gurtskaya is a popular stage singer in Russia.
Eurovision is being held in Serbia for the first time in the contest's 52-year history, after Serbian singer Marija Serifovic won last year's competition in Helsinki singing a song called “Prayer” in her native language. Forty-three countries will send representatives to this year's Eurovision contest.
www.kommersant.com
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