Russian national broadcaster Rossija 1 has opted to select the 2014 Russian Eurovision entry and representative via an internal selection. Hence changing the method and mechanism of selecting its Eurovision entry and representative.

Initially the broadcaster had opted to select its Eurovision entry for Copenhagen via a televised national final. Rossija 1 will now select its Eurovision representative internally and an annoucement with the name of the 2014 Russian representative is expected in due course.

Initially Rossija 1 had opened the submission for artists who wish to compete in the 2014 Russian national final to submit their applications online and had announced the rules and regulations for the 2014 Russian Eurovision national final Kto? (Who?). The rules and regulations were published on Rossija 1′s official website.

The 2014 Russian Eurovision national selection would have consisted of 2 phases. The first phase would have run from September- October where a special jury would have shortlisted all the submitted applications to 25.

Rossija 1 would have then announced the names of the 25 lucky acts that will compete in the grand final on their official website. The Russian audience along with a special jury  would have been  in charge of the deliberation  of the 2014 Russian Eurovision representative and act on December 31st. The broadcaster then decided to postpone the national final and extend the submission period to February 28, with a planned national final in March.

Now Russia is set to select their Eurovision hopeful and entry internally, whilst an official announcement is expected by the end of the week.

Russia debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 with Youdiph’s Vechni Stranik, and has won the event once in  2008 with Dima Bilan’s Believe, and hosted Europe’s favourite television show in 2009 on home soil in Moscow.

In 2013 Russian national broadcaster Channel 1 Russia selected Dina Garipova to represent Russia  at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest via an internal selection. Dina achieved an honorable 5th placing with her entry What If.