That is the kind of distinction that makes hotel owners very happy, and gives tin-pot dictatorships what they see as an opportunity to burnish their reputation abroad. One of the awards for winning the Eurovision crown is the honor of hosting the following year’s contest. But Eurovision’s arrival in Moscow has brought tensions with Georgia, internal acrimony at home, and a potential showdown between gay rights activists and the authorities. Dima Bilan’s winning entry in last year’s Eurovision song contest brought Russia its first Eurovision crown since the country made its debut in the competition in 1994. It was one triumph amongst many for Russia in 2008. The Eurovision Song Contest to Be Hosted in Russia Is Already Steeped in Controversy
