Russian bear is back with Eurovision win

By Guy Faulconbridge

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian bear is back on the world stage and political leaders are making the most of it.

Wins in the Eurovision Song Contest, on the ice rink and the soccer field have given Russia, already bolstered by a world bull market for oil and eight years of calm in the Kremlin, a new feeling of confidence.

Dima Bilan, a lithe 26-year-old singer, beat 24 contestants to give Russia its first victory in the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday with a rock ballad "Believe".

During his performance, Russian Olympic gold figure skating medallist Evgeni Plushenko danced around him on skates and Hungarian violinist Edvin Marton played a Stradivarius.

"Russia's victories are coming one after another -- football, hockey and now Eurovision," Bilan, draped in a Russian tricolour flag and his shirt open, told reporters in Belgrade after the contest.

President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, rushed to congratulate the singer, who gushed with patriotism as he spoke to state television.

"It is really great that the prize is coming to Russia," Medvedev was quoted by the Kremlin as telling Bilan by phone.

Bilan was shown chanting "Russia, Russia, Russia" down a mobile phone to Medvedev. State television ran the Eurovision victory as its top news story in Sunday broadcasts.