Austria Wins Eurovision Song Contest

Austrian Eurovision contender Conchita Wurst won with the ballad "Rise Like a Phoenix", before an international TV audience of around 180 million people in 45 countries.

Austria's bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst has won the 59th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.

The singer won with the ballad "Rise Like a Phoenix", before an international TV audience of around 180 million people in 45 countries.

After her victory, Wurst told reporters she hoped gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people around the world are getting stronger in their fight for human rights.

The Netherlands' modern country duo, the Common Linnets, finished second.

Neither Russia's entry, teenage twins Anastasia and Maria Tolmachevy, nor Ukraine's Mariya Yaremchuk alluded to the recent tensions between Moscow and Kyiv.

Still, every time Russia got votes many in the audience of 10,000 booed. They also booed when Russia's delegates appeared on screen to announce its votes.

Many former Soviet republic countries gave their points to neighboring countries, except Ukraine, whose eight points to Austria were decisive.

Ukraine's song was voted the sixth best of the 26 songs, and Russia's came in seventh.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP