Eurovision Song Contest hopefuls Putin the boot over Russia

SIR Terry Wogan may have quit as a Eurovision Song Contest commentator in protest against political voting, but Georgia's provocative entry to this year's contest threatens to embroil Russia's prime minister.

The former Soviet republic has hit back at Russia's military intervention in one of its breakaway regions last year by choosing Stephane & 3G's We Don't Wanna Put In as its entry for the event in Moscow in May.

The title may sound innocuous in English, but the quartet's pronunciation is the same as that for Vladimir Putin.

The group's performance is quintessential Eurovision tacky disco, with the female singers in hot pants and boots.

However, to remove any doubt over their intent, the group pretend to shoot themselves in the head as they perform the chorus: "We don't wanna put in/Cuz negative move/It's killin' the groove/I'm gonna try to shoot in/Some disco tonight/Boogie with you."

The song is likely to cause embarrassment in the Russian capital after Georgia earlier reversed its decision to pull out of the contest because of the venue.

Stephane & 3G, who won the Georgian national final on Wednesday to represent the country at the event, made no bones about their intent.

Kakha Tsiskaridze, who produced the song, said: "Since we (Georgia] decided to take part, we need to send a message to Europe and first of all to Moscow.

"The song is called Put In and its text carries a double meaning. I think everyone will understand what we want to say. It's important for us to say what Georgia wants to say as a country."

But Channel One television, Georgia's public broadcaster, denied that the song contains a political message.

Eurovision rules prohibit lyrics, speeches, or gestures "of a political or similar nature".

Ratia Uznadze, the director of international projects for the channel, said: "This song is not about politics. It has nothing to do with politics and politicians

"If you look at the text of the song, there's nothing wrong with it. It's a funny disco song. I hope we won't face any problems in Moscow since we don't want a scandal."

She added that Georgia had reversed its decision not to take part in the contest after being lobbied by other entrants.

Ms Uznadze said: "At first, the decision was taken not to take part in Eurovision in Moscow. But then we received letters from representatives of virtually all the countries that take part in this prestigious competition; they all asked us to change our decision and send our singers."

A spokesman for the Embassy of the Russian Federation in London seemed bemused. "I do not think we comment on such things as Eurovision entries," he said yesterday.

Stephane & 3G's song is just the latest Eurovision controversy – a term virtually synonymous with the competition.

Last year, Irish voters shocked musicians such as the former Eurovision winner Dana by choosing a wise-cracking puppet, Dustin the Turkey, to represent the country at the event.

His song, Irlande Douze Points, parodied the contest, with lines such as "Drag acts and bad acts and Terry Wogan's wig", but failed to make it past the semi-finals.

Two years before, a Finnish death metal entry triumphed, while Ukraine's Greenjolly performed their Orange Revolution anthem Razom Nas Bagato in 2005.

---

BACKGROUND

GEORGIA and Russia broke off diplomatic relations last summer in the wake of the August war, during which Russia took control of two separatist Georgian regions and inflicted heavy damage on Georgia's military.

Georgia sent troops and tanks to retake the pro-Russian rebel region of South Ossetia, which had thrown off Tbilisi's rule in 1991-92.

Russia responded with a counter-strike that drove the Georgian army out of South Ossetia. Moscow's troops pushed into Georgia, saying they needed to prevent further Georgian attacks.

The conflict resulted in more than 1,500 deaths, tens of thousands people being displaced and an increased Russian presence in parts of Georgia.

Tensions remain, with the breakaway region of Abkhazia expected to sign a deal within months allowing Russia to establish a naval base and an air base on its soil.

A senior Georgian member of parliament has said the Russian move would breach international law.