This year’s Eurovision final, a show that attracts a large number of gay fans, has been overshadowed by the Russian police intervention in the case of an unauthorised gay manifestation. Approximately 40 demonstrators have been arrested on Saturday afternoon. Norwegian Alexander Rybak criticised Russian’s police behaviour, after being voted winner, according to Deutsche Presse Agentur.

"We had with us in the hall today the biggest gay parade ever", Alexander Rybak, the great Eurovision 2009 winner, said referring to the numerous gay fans present at the show.

The reviewer for the German national TV channel ARD remarked the fact that Romania was perhaps the only country that did not award Norway any point. The German press talks about Rybak and his fairytale song, comparing him with a Norwegian "Harry Potter". His victory has been achieved with "a suspicious number of points”, the German press notes.