Politics rears its ugly head as Russian Eurovision result booed

Attitudes to Ukraine crisis reflected in voting at first semi-final in Copenhagen

Global tensions found their way into Eurovision Song Contest last night: the announcement that Russia had qualified for Saturday night's final was met with loud booing.

The 10,000-strong audience in Copenhagen’s Eurovision arena had met the 17-year-old Tolmachevy Twins’ performance of “Shine” with enthusiasm, but expressed apparent disapproval of Russia’s current political moves in their response to voting results.

Top-tipped Armenia, Sweden, Ukraine, Hungary, and Azerbaijan also qualified. The Netherlands' classy country number Calm After the Storm was considered a borderline qualifier, but made its way through.

San Marino’s first-ever qualification came as a big surprise, but it is not for the singer’s lack of trying: it’s Valentina Monetta’s third time in a row singing for the country.

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The announcement of her qualification was met with loud cheers in the arena and the press centre. Other surprise qualifiers were Montenegro, singing the ballad Moj Svijet, and Iceland, with a boppy number about tolerance, No Prejudice.

Iceland’s was the only up-tempo song to make its way to the final, as Portugal’s ‘80s-disco number Quero Ser Tua and Latvia’s singsongy Cake to Bake were both relegated.

Ireland's act, Can-Linn featuring Kasey Smith, competes in Thursday's semi-final, alongside 14 other hopefuls. The act is holding steady at Oddschecker. com in eighth place.

The Eurovision final is at 8pm on Saturday.