Sergei Lazarev to represent Russia at Eurovision-2019 song context

MOSCOW, February 8. /TASS/. Sergei Lazarev will for the second time represent Russia at the Eurovision song contest to be held in Tel Aviv, Israel, in May, the event’s official broadcaster in Russia, VGTRK, announced on Friday.

“Sergei Lazaerv will represent Russia at the Eurovision-2019 song contest,” VGTRK said.

According to Eurovision rules, an official broadcaster of a participating country has the right to choose between picking up the contestant in a nationwide selection or nominating it on its own. Russia’s official broadcasters – Channel One and Rossiya 1, which have been taking turns every year – haven’t held a nationwide selection since 2013. The latest nationwide selection was won by folk group Buranovskiye Babuski, who finished as the runner up with their song ‘Party for Everybody.’

Sergei Lazarev represented Russia in Stockholm in 2016 with the song ‘You Are the Only One’ and was the leader of the televote, but finished third in the overall standings due to the jury’s decision.

In a Rossiya-1 broadcast, Lazarev said he had doubts whether he should have another try.

“This decision was made by the Rossiya-1 TV channel and me, because I had certain doubts on whether I should repeat my trip to Eurovision. Frankly, I did my best last time, and the spectators appreciated it, we won the televote but nevertheless became third,” Lazarev said.