Russian govt allocating 600 mln rubles to prepare, hold Intervision int'l song contest

MOSCOW. Dec 29 (Interfax) - The Russian government will allocate 600 million rubles to subsidize the Art Traditions foundation to prepare the Intervision international song contest and hold it in St. Petersburg in 2024, a directive signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and available on the official online database of legal information says.

"The Russian Foreign Ministry will be provided with a budget appropriation in the amount of 600 million rubles from the Russian government's Reserve Fund in 2023 as a subsidy to be provided to Art Traditions, the foundation for preserving and supporting cultural heritage and developing national and international culture, to finance the preparations for and the holding of an Intervision international popular song contest in St. Petersburg in 2024," the directive says.

The Foreign Ministry has been instructed to monitor the appropriate and effective use of this budget appropriation and submit a corresponding report to the government by February 1, 2025.

Mishustin said on December 18 that the idea of launching such a contest had been proposed by cultural figures.

"They see it as [an] annual [event], and open to all states that share our spiritual values and are ready for a mutually respectful and equitable dialogue. The first such event is expected to be held in Russia next year," Mishustin said at a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government.

"The contest's rules will be determined in collaboration with partner countries. We will set up a permanent organizing committee and elect representatives of national juries," he said.

Mishustin said he was certain that the new song contest would become a colorful and remarkable musical event.