Manizha, the final artist representing Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest, has unveiled a bold anti-war song, despite claiming she is barred from live performances in her adopted homeland. The track, titled "Gun," is a revised version of a composition she penned ten years ago, and was released as a single last month. It will also feature on her Extended Play (EP) "Hope," set for release on September 4.
In a Zoom interview with Reuters from Moscow, Manizha explained that "Gun" aims to promote peace across various regions, including Ukraine, Russia, Israel, and Palestine. Born in Tajikistan, Manizha Sangin escaped the civil war of the 1990s and was initially embraced by Russia. However, after openly opposing Russia's incursion into Ukraine in 2022 and advocating for LGBTQ rights, she reported being banned from performing in the country, which consequently disqualified Russia from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Her Russian heritage complicates her international performances as well. "I'm cancelled in my country and I'm cancelled in the world," she lamented, exploring these sentiments in her song "Standing Between Two Walls," which is included in the forthcoming EP. Despite the challenges, Manizha remains hopeful. "Every war has an end because I've witnessed it in my homeland in Tajikistan. It's just a very dark period in our history," she stated. She also expressed her continued affection for Russia and her efforts to assist displaced individuals following Ukraine's unexpected assault on Russia's Kursk region.
