Participants from Russia in the festival “Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk” have been namedSelective auditions finished in Moscow.

Selective auditions of candidates from the Russian Federation for the XXXIV International Festival of Arts “Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk” have been completed.

The second round of the National selection auditions was held in the Great Hall of the Moscow Folklore Center. The candidates were required to perform publicly in front of the jury headed by the Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, member of the Union of Composers and the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation Grigory Gladkov.

As a result of the auditions in the age category from 8 to 14 years, which took place on 25 March, the jury decided to recommend Zaur Baragunov (Nalchik) to represent the Russian Federation in the XXIII International Children’s Music Competition “Vitebsk-2025”.

Zaur Baragunov is a singer, musician, and the ambassador of the Russian children and youth movement “Movement of the First”. Zaur comes from a family of musicians. He recently won the All-Russian Family Forum “Rodnye – Lyubimye” (Moscow, 2024). He is a finalist, winner, and special prize winner of vocal competitions and television projects “Battle of Talents”, “Golden Orpheus”, “I am a Talent”, “Shemyakin Spring”, “Golden Nika”, etc., and has performed solo at the Mariinsky Theater and the State Kremlin Palace.

On 26 March,  auditions of candidates in the age category from 18 to 31 years were held. The jury’s decision was to recommend Erik Akhmetov (Moscow) for participation from the Russian Federation in the International Competition of Pop Song Performers of the XXXIV International Arts Festival “Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk-2025”.

Erik Akhmetov is a singer and songwriter. He entered the Music College of Pop and Jazz Art at the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music in Moscow straight into his second year. He graduated from the Gnessin College with honors, then continued his education at the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music in the producers’ department. Laureate and finalist of many competitions, participant in television projects: “The Voice – Children” (2013-2014), “Songs” on the TNT channel (2017), “Come on, all together!” (2020 and 2023), “New Star” (2021), Anton Belyaev’s Lab (2021-2022).

The XXXIV International Festival of Arts “Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk-2025” will be held from 7 to 15 July 2025 in the Republic of Belarus.

The event was held with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. Organizer – Federal State Budgetary Institution of Culture ROSCONCERT.