Televised talent shows key to international relations? Sure!
So a Russian by the name of Dima Bilan won the recent Eurovision song contest, a sort of multinational version of American Idol. On the news that votes from the Baltic states helped Bilan claim the title, a young pro-Kremlin assemblage gathered outside the Latvian and Estonian embassies in Moscow to express their gratitude.
They even released a statement which read, in part: “It’s very pleasant to hear that Russia was supported in this contest by our nearest neighbours, including the Baltic states, with whom our bilateral relations aren’t very good.”
Just so you’re clear on how big this show is: Russia’s president Dmitry Medvedev made a telephone call while on his first official foreign trip (to China) to congratulate Bilan, who’s win guarantees next year’s contest will be hosted by Russia. The former President/current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin referred to the win as “yet another triumph for all of Russia.” If ever anyone was all about triumph…
Take that, Western Europe.