The Eurovision Song Contest's largest country will hold a National Final for the first time since 2005 in 2008, according to the RTR website. The national final for Russia was announced yesterday during the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, which is also shown on RTR in Russia, and the call for songs from the public was opened.

As yet there is no information as to how many songs will participate or how the winner will be chosen, but we know that it will consist of just one final, held on the 9th March 2008.

RTR traditionally holds national finals when it is in charge of selecting the Russian entry, as it was in 1994 and 1996. However, C1R, who chose the entries in 1995, and every year from 1997-2007 favours the internal selection method, only holding a national final once, in 2005 – which actually led to Russia's worst position in the televoting years.

Songs applying to take part should reach RTR by the 1st February 2008. More information can be found here (in Russian).