Putin’s Spokesman Slams Georgia’s Eurovision Song

Georgia’s Eurovision 2009 song poking fun at Russia’s PM Vladimir Putin is “hooliganism,” Dmitry Peskov, the Russian PM’s spokesman, said on February 20.

The song called “We don’t Wanna Put In” is a play on words with reference to Russian PM’s second name.
 
“If it is really so, we should only regret that the contestants from Georgia instead of concentrating on the art, use such a popular contest in Europe for demonstrating their pseudo-political ambitions, or – simply speaking – their hooliganism,” RIA Novosti news agency quoted Peskov.

Then he added jokingly: “Anyway, I am sure nobody here will sing a song ‘Good bye our sweet Misha’” – verses from an official anthem of Moscow 1980 Olympic Games; Misha was the name of the Moscow Olympic Games mascot.

He also said that he hoped “the Georgian guests of the Moscow Eurovision will perform real beautiful music, which the Georgian people and the Georgian culture are so rich of.”

Although initially members of Stefane & 3G – the band performing the song – made no secret of their entry’s political context, on February 20, Kristine Imedadze, one of the singers in the band strongly denied there was politics or implications to Russia’s PM. The Georgian public broadcaster has also denied politics were involved. Before the selection, the song was advertised by the Georgian television stations as “a protest song.”

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)