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"It's the end of Europe!": Conchita's win sparks outrage from Russian politicians

“Fifty years ago the Soviet army occupied Austria. We made a mistake in freeing Austria. We should have stayed.”

Updated 19.55

VICTORY FOR AUSTRIA’s bearded drag artist Conchita Wurst at the Eurovision Song Contest prompted an outpouring of anti-gay anger from Russian politicians and stars this morning.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin wrote on Twitter that the Eurovision result “showed supporters of European integration their European future: a bearded girl.”

“There’s no limit to our outrage. It’s the end of Europe. It has turned wild. They don’t have men and women any more. They have ‘it’,” nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky told Rossiya-1 state television.

“Fifty years ago the Soviet army occupied Austria. We made a mistake in freeing Austria. We should have stayed,” added the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, known for his outrageous statements.

Russia’s entry, the Tolmachevy Sisters, came seventh. There was loud booing from the crowd in Copenhagen last night every time the country was awarded a high score.

Russia gave Austria five points — one more than it awarded Ukraine as the ex-Soviet neighbours are locked in a deadly crisis.

‘Propoganda’

Russia last year adopted a controversial law banning the “propaganda” of homosexuality to minors, prompting condemnation from Western leaders and rights activists. Russia has also banned adoption of Russian children by foreign gay couples.

Popular hip-hop star Timati wrote on his Instagram account that Wurst’s victory was the result of a “mental illness of contemporary society”.

“I wouldn’t like one fine day to have to explain to my child why two guys are kissing or a woman is walking round with a dyed beard and that’s supposed to be normal,” he said.

But Ukrainian drag act Verka Serduchka, who came second at Eurovision in 2007, strongly backed Wurst.

“To be honest, at the start it did shock me a bit, but when I saw it, I thought: why not? A person wants to express himself,” said Andriy Danilko, who performs as Serduchka.

“We need to be more compassionate. I hate when people are bullied,” Danilko told Rossiya-1 television.

She is kind. Don’t be mean to her. She is an eccentric. An eccentric with a beard.

Flamboyant pop star Filipp Kirkorov, producer of Russia’s Eurovision entry this year, even suggested Wurst’s victory should make Russians reconsider homophobic views.

“Maybe this is a kind of protest against some of our views in Russia. Maybe we should have a think. Maybe we shouldn’t have such a categorical attitude to people of different sexual orientations,” he told Rossiya-1 television.

“In a way it probably is a challenge from Europe to us, but let’s respect the winner. People don’t judge a winner,” Kirkorov said.

© – AFP 2014. Additional reporting, Daragh Brophy.

Read: Putin threatened with “consequences” if election fails to go ahead

Read: Eurovision 2014 as it happened: Johnny Logan, beards, and glorious Conchita 

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    Mute AlanH -AFC
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    Oct 30th 2015, 7:59 PM

    not much of a dig ffs ,

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    Mute Karol Doran
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    Oct 30th 2015, 8:23 PM

    Agreed. Tongue in cheek at best. Quite humorous too.

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    Mute Murph11
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    Oct 30th 2015, 7:51 PM

    Why this person gets so much AirPlay , I’ll never know

    169
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    Mute Drew TheChinaman :)
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    Oct 30th 2015, 7:58 PM

    He appeals to the lowest common denominator… Like Farage and Corbin.

    93
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    Mute littleone
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    Oct 30th 2015, 8:22 PM

    Because his neighbours and best pals with David Cameron. Part of the same dinner set along with mirs not so nice Rebecca Brooke’s.

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    Mute Karol Doran
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    Oct 30th 2015, 8:25 PM

    Why did you two even click into this article? Get a life.

    99
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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Oct 31st 2015, 1:53 AM

    I love him – can’t wait to see the new show

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    Mute Martin Gallagher
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    Oct 30th 2015, 7:53 PM

    I’d like to see Clarkson test drive a segway on the M1 in a dense fog

    125
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    Mute Pól Mac Gearailt
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    Oct 30th 2015, 10:58 PM

    With a blindfold on, and going against traffic.

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    Mute westcorklad
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    Oct 30th 2015, 8:16 PM

    he looks like he’s aged a lot in the last year

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    Mute aoife kally
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    Oct 30th 2015, 9:23 PM

    top gear was my fave! each to their own but i cant WAIT to watch this new show =)

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    Mute David Conroy
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    Oct 30th 2015, 10:04 PM

    I would much prefer to see Guy Martin (real Man) in the job !

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    Mute TommyRyder
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    Oct 30th 2015, 7:57 PM

    £160?
    Jeremy’s laughing all the way to the bank.

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    Mute john g mcgrath
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    Oct 30th 2015, 8:42 PM

    Every bank in uk!!

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    Mute Spilt Pint
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    Oct 30th 2015, 8:18 PM

    A dig got him where he is now, lesson not learned!

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    Mute Eamonn Connaghan
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    Oct 30th 2015, 8:27 PM

    He’s about as funny as a burning orphanage.

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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Oct 30th 2015, 8:34 PM

    Don’t care, won’t be watching. Fifth gear for me with actual car people.

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    Mute Karol Doran
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    Oct 30th 2015, 8:40 PM

    You cared enough to come onto the article and comment though didn’t you?

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    Mute Karol Doran
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    Oct 30th 2015, 8:42 PM

    Fifth Gear is garbage by the way.

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    Mute Niall O' Sullivan
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    Oct 30th 2015, 9:14 PM

    I can see you’re getting very upset about this Karol. It’s just a TV show for adolescent kids and young men that never grew up. Maybe take a step back and take stock.

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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Oct 30th 2015, 10:03 PM

    Calm down, Karol, dear – it’s only a TV show

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    Mute Stephen
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    Oct 30th 2015, 10:05 PM

    Bahahaha fifth gear.

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    Mute TommyRyder
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    Oct 30th 2015, 10:07 PM

    @Niall.
    It’s a show about cars and engines.
    I like cars.
    I like engines.
    I like the Top Gear format.
    I like Jeremy Clarkson because he’s an antidote to the bland politically correct eunuchs masquerading as male presenters on modern TV.
    (BTW – his comments are tongue in cheek)

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    Mute Karol Doran
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    Oct 30th 2015, 10:20 PM

    Niall,

    I’m not one bit upset, thanks. I just find it completely ridiculous that someone would take time out to not only read an article about a man and tv show that they obviously do not care for, and then go to the bother of writing a comment to that end.
    There’s only one word for that sort of person. A troll.

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    Mute Karol Doran
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    Oct 30th 2015, 10:24 PM

    Also Niall,

    Top Gear is a show for anyone that enjoys cars. Which is quite a lot of people.
    So as I say, go be a troll somewhere else. You obviously do not enjoy the show and you come on here telling everyone how bad it is.
    Do you realise how sad that is?

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    Mute Agrippa
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    Oct 30th 2015, 11:06 PM

    Jeremy Clarkson. what a total bell end

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Oct 31st 2015, 12:08 AM

    But a rich one in fairness…

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    Mute Claire Gallagher
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    Oct 31st 2015, 12:13 AM

    «Tha’!» lol
    Love it :D

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