Ben Tavener
@bbcbentavener.bsky.social
Senior journalist, BBC News Moscow bureau
In more bizarre #Intervision developments, Russia’s entry Shaman addresses the audience after his act and says he asks the jury to disregard his performance and not assign him a score - the “rules of hospitality” dictate “I have no right to lay claim to victory”, he says.
September 20, 2025 at 7:04 PM
In more bizarre #Intervision developments, Russia’s entry Shaman addresses the audience after his act and says he asks the jury to disregard his performance and not assign him a score - the “rules of hospitality” dictate “I have no right to lay claim to victory”, he says.
No politics in #Intervision! First a lengthy video message from President Vladimir Putin and then an interview with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after the *first* act!
September 20, 2025 at 6:26 PM
No politics in #Intervision! First a lengthy video message from President Vladimir Putin and then an interview with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after the *first* act!
BREAKING: The replacement US entry for #Intervision, Australian-Greek singer Vassy, tells the BBC she has also withdrawn from the revived Soviet-era song contest last minute “due to an unforeseen emergency” and won’t be performing.
September 20, 2025 at 5:37 PM
BREAKING: The replacement US entry for #Intervision, Australian-Greek singer Vassy, tells the BBC she has also withdrawn from the revived Soviet-era song contest last minute “due to an unforeseen emergency” and won’t be performing.
“Here we go” with what exactly? Phase 2 (1?) of sanctions against Russia? Another deadline? Another taco?
September 10, 2025 at 3:23 PM
“Here we go” with what exactly? Phase 2 (1?) of sanctions against Russia? Another deadline? Another taco?
Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, is to be summoned by the Foreign Office after major strikes on Kyiv overnight which killed at least 15 people. Meanwhile, the Kremlin says it only strikes military and military-related targets and is still interested in peace talks...
August 28, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, is to be summoned by the Foreign Office after major strikes on Kyiv overnight which killed at least 15 people. Meanwhile, the Kremlin says it only strikes military and military-related targets and is still interested in peace talks...
Russia is reviving a Soviet-era Eastern Bloc answer to #Eurovision. In September, entries from some 20 countries - from China to Colombia - will take part in #Intervision (Интервидение). Earlier this year the US said it’d join in, as Trump wooed Putin (& vice versa), and now we know who…
August 22, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Russia is reviving a Soviet-era Eastern Bloc answer to #Eurovision. In September, entries from some 20 countries - from China to Colombia - will take part in #Intervision (Интервидение). Earlier this year the US said it’d join in, as Trump wooed Putin (& vice versa), and now we know who…
BREAKING: US envoy Steve Witkoff meeting Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin
August 6, 2025 at 9:11 AM
BREAKING: US envoy Steve Witkoff meeting Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin
Russian media showing Steve Witkoff’s motorcade going into the Kremlin:
August 6, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Russian media showing Steve Witkoff’s motorcade going into the Kremlin:
Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy, is in Moscow – seen here strolling in Zaryadye Park next to the Kremlin alongside Kirill Dmitriev, Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy.
August 6, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy, is in Moscow – seen here strolling in Zaryadye Park next to the Kremlin alongside Kirill Dmitriev, Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy.
A former Russian president gives his assessment of Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to the current one:
July 15, 2025 at 7:34 AM
A former Russian president gives his assessment of Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to the current one:
BREAKING: Trump envoy Steve Witkoff starts meeting with Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin has put out this video:
April 11, 2025 at 2:48 PM
BREAKING: Trump envoy Steve Witkoff starts meeting with Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin has put out this video:
It’s 10 years since Boris Nemtsov, a fierce Kremlin critic, was killed - shot in the back just yards from Red Square. A noticeable police presence at that spot today as foreign ambassadors came to pay their respects. Everyone else urged by police to lay their flowers and leave.
February 27, 2025 at 8:55 AM
It’s 10 years since Boris Nemtsov, a fierce Kremlin critic, was killed - shot in the back just yards from Red Square. A noticeable police presence at that spot today as foreign ambassadors came to pay their respects. Everyone else urged by police to lay their flowers and leave.
BREAKING: Talks between US and Russian delegations have begun in Riyadh, Russia’s foreign ministry says, publishing this photo:
February 18, 2025 at 7:48 AM
BREAKING: Talks between US and Russian delegations have begun in Riyadh, Russia’s foreign ministry says, publishing this photo:
More on our live page:
www.bbc.com/news/live/c4...
www.bbc.com/news/live/c4...
February 13, 2025 at 12:29 PM
More on our live page:
www.bbc.com/news/live/c4...
www.bbc.com/news/live/c4...
Some thoughts on what the Trump-Putin call means - from @bbcstever.bsky.social
February 12, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Some thoughts on what the Trump-Putin call means - from @bbcstever.bsky.social
Putin congratulates Trump. Again.
January 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Putin congratulates Trump. Again.
Early this morning, this is where Lt Gen Igor Kirillov and his assistant were killed. Residents here tell us it’s a frightening sight.
December 17, 2024 at 11:25 AM
Early this morning, this is where Lt Gen Igor Kirillov and his assistant were killed. Residents here tell us it’s a frightening sight.
A different flag flying from the Syrian embassy in Moscow today…
December 9, 2024 at 11:14 AM
A different flag flying from the Syrian embassy in Moscow today…
Outside Georgia’s parliament building tonight...
December 1, 2024 at 8:15 PM
Outside Georgia’s parliament building tonight...
Georgia’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, told us today it is “a lie” made up by the opposition that Georgia’s EU accession talks have been suspended - despite him saying it on 28 November on camera.
December 1, 2024 at 2:37 PM
Georgia’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, told us today it is “a lie” made up by the opposition that Georgia’s EU accession talks have been suspended - despite him saying it on 28 November on camera.
Tbilisi earlier tonight… and even now, after 3am, anti-government protesters are continuing to face off with riot police. They’re furious the government here put Georgia’s EU aspirations on ice till at least late 2028. Water cannon, tear gas, rubber bullets deployed on streets of Tbilisi tonight.
November 29, 2024 at 11:33 PM
Tbilisi earlier tonight… and even now, after 3am, anti-government protesters are continuing to face off with riot police. They’re furious the government here put Georgia’s EU aspirations on ice till at least late 2028. Water cannon, tear gas, rubber bullets deployed on streets of Tbilisi tonight.
Here is Nadezhda talking to the press just before cameras were told to vacate the courtroom and the verdict and sentence were rapidly read out. The prosecution had asked for six years.
November 12, 2024 at 3:32 PM
Here is Nadezhda talking to the press just before cameras were told to vacate the courtroom and the verdict and sentence were rapidly read out. The prosecution had asked for six years.