C1, Channel One Russia, has confirmed that Russia will participate at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Ukraine next year.
Russia is yet to determine the mechanism it will use to select its Eurovision entry and act for Kyiv.
In 2016 Russia opted for an internal selection in order to select its Eurovision entry and act for Stockholm. Russian superstar Sergey Lazarev had the honour of flying the Russian flag at the 2016 ESC with his entry You are the only one. Sergey had one of the most extraordinary and electrifying stagings ever in the competition. He won the public televote and missed out on winning the Grand Prix. Russia achieved an honorable 3rd placing in Stockholm.
Russia debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 and won the competition in 2008 with Dima Bilan. The country hosted the 2009 ESC in Moscow with a magnificent stage and show.
With Russia in the house, xx countries have so far confirmed their intention to participate at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.
The period for countries to apply for participation at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest concluded on 15 September. Hereafter applicant countries had a grace period until 10 October to decide if they were to stay or not in the competition without facing a financial penalty.
The 2017 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to be held on 9, 11 and 13 May at the IEC in Kyiv, Ukraine by the end of the year.
