**Austria’s JJ Wins Eurovision, but Victory Overshadowed by Scandal**
In a surprise turn of events, Austrian contestant Johannes Pitch, also known as JJ, took home the top prize at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland. His song “Wasted Love” secured 436 points, making it Austria’s third-ever Eurovision win. However, this triumph has been marred by a scandal involving his connections to Russian soprano Anna Netrebko.
**The Scandal Surrounding Johannes Pitch and Anna Netrebko**
Johannes Pitch has come under fire for his association with Anna Netrebko, a known supporter of Vladimir Putin and Russian military operations in Ukraine’s Donbas region. It has been reported that Pitch spoke admiringly of Netrebko in an interview, even crediting her as the inspiration behind his winning contest song “Wasted Love”. Furthermore, critics have pointed out that since 2021, Pitch has regularly engaged with Netrebko’s social media posts containing pro-Russian propaganda.
**Netrebko: A “Putin Propagandist”**
Anna Netrebko has been described by some as a “Putin propagandist” due to her support for Russian actions in Ukraine. She has performed in occupied Donbas and once wore a t-shirt with the provocative slogan “Occupy Berlin”. Her support for what many characterize as a “genocidal war of aggression” has made Pitch’s association with her particularly controversial.
**Ukraine Finishes in Ninth Place**
Despite the scandal surrounding the winner, Ukraine finished a respectable ninth place overall after the combination of jury and public votes were tallied. The Ziferblat band member expressed satisfaction with this result, stating that it was an important achievement for Ukrainian music. In fact, Ukraine rose significantly from 14th place following audience voting.
**The Final Top 10**
The final top 10 consisted of Austria (first), Israel (second), Estonia (third), Sweden, Italy, Greece, France, Albania, Ukraine, and Switzerland. A total of 26 countries participated in the final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, with 20 qualifiers from two semifinals joining the six automatic finalists.
**Ukraine’s Spokesperson Served as a Symbol of Resilience**
Jerry Heil served as Ukraine’s spokesperson, announcing the Ukrainian national jury’s 12 points for Germany while broadcasting from a shelter in Kyiv. This display of resilience and determination was a poignant moment amidst the controversy surrounding the contest.
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