Organisers of the Intervision song contest in Russia have accused the Australian government of pressuring singer Vassy to withdraw.

Intervision, the Russian alternative to the Eurovision Song Contest, has kicked off in Moscow with a message from President Vladimir Putin, who said the event promotes cultural identity preservation.

“Respect for traditional values and the diversity of cultures is the fundamental idea of the competition and inspires participants to achieve artistic heights,” he said.

The music competition, featuring 23 countries, is being held in front of about 11,000 spectators at the Live Arena concert hall in Moscow, according to the organisers.

Contenders from 23 countries, including Qatar’s Dana Al Meer, are taking part in Intervision. Photo: AAP

Shortly before the performance of Australian-born singer Vasiliki Karagiorgos, who goes by Vassy and was supposed to represent the United States, the hosts announced that she would no longer be participating.

The organisers, who said Vassy has US citizenship, attributed this to alleged “unprecedented political pressure from the Australian government”.

Vassy was already a replacement candidate, as the previously announced US entry, musician B Howard (Brandon Howard), had withdrawn on Wednesday due to “unforeseen family reasons”.

Russia’s state-run Channel One is broadcasting the three-and-a-half-hour show.

The winner will be decided by an international jury composed of representatives from the participating countries.

These include former Soviet republics such as Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as well as Russia’s allies in the BRICS group including China, India, Brazil, and South Africa.

Unlike Eurovision, Intervision does not allow the public to vote.

Russia has been barred from participating in Eurovision since 2022, when its army launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Intervision is seen as Putin’s conservative counter-project to Eurovision.

“There will be no perversions or mockery of human nature,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

—AAP