The 2016 contest was held in Stockholm . While Lazarev was a heavy favorite to win, the final victory went to Jamala from with the song "1944." The split between jury and public voting for Russia sparked significant discussion within the Eurovision community regarding the influence of political factors on scoring.
: The performance featured a large projection wall that Lazarev appeared to climb and interact with in real-time, creating 3D illusions. The 2016 contest was held in Stockholm
: Following his 2016 success, he returned to represent Russia again in 2019 with the song "Scream," where he also finished in third place. The 2016 contest was held in Stockholm