An Australian-born singer representing the United States at the Russian-hosted Intervision song contest has dropped out at the last minute after what organisers claimed was political pressure from the Australian government.

Vasiliki Karagiorgos, known professionally as "Vassy", was slated to represent the US on Saturday in the Soviet-era song contest in Moscow, which was revived this year at the decree of President Vladimir Putin after Russia was banned from Eurovision due to the war in Ukraine.

But the Australian singer and producer, who was set to perform in the fifth slot, dropped out after coming under what Russian organisers said was "unprecedented political pressure from the government of Australia".

The singer told the ABC in a statement that she had left Moscow and was "still in

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