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Ukrainian Anastasia Prikhodko to represent Russia at Eurovision 2009
[12:34 pm] 09 March, 2009

Anastasia Prikhodko, a 21-year-old performer of Ukrainian origin, and
her song `Mom’ will represent Russia at the Eurovision competition,
due in Moscow from May 9 to May 16, said a March 7 decision of a panel
of judges that selected Prikhodko from a shortlist of three
competitors. The judges made their choice on the basis of a nationwide
voting by telephone calls and SMS messages.

Anastasia Prikhodko from Kiev became famous in the Russian Federation
after participating in the Star Fabric project.

The television audiences gave Prikhodko the biggest share of votes `
25%, and the voting by the judges themselves gave the singer a
prevalence of one vote ` six votes given to her and five votes, to
other competitors.

Anastasia Prikhodko was followed by pop singer Valeria (14 %) and
group Quatro (12 %).

After the national final televised on Russian Public Television (ORT)
Valeria’s husband producer Iosif Prigozhin announced that the results
of the voting had been ragged.

`The organizers had earlier advised my wife to withdraw from the
contest. Moreover, during the voting Prikhodko was already preparing
in a separate room to stand before the audience as a winner,’ said
Prigozhin.

Note that earlier Anastasia had taken part in an elimination round in
the Ukraine, but it gave rise to a situation where the media started
accusing the panel of judges of `partisan actions’ and of attempts to
conceal the true results of voting. Anastasia was disqualified as a
result. Svetlana Loboda, ex VIA Gra member, will represent the Ukraine
in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress