BELGRADE, May 25 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Dima Bilan won the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, beating 24 contestants to claim his country's first win in the event with his heartfelt ballad "Believe."
Bilan received 272 points from telephone voters in a stage show that also included Hungarian violinist Edvin Marton and famous Russian Olympic figure skating champion Yevgeny Plyushchenko.
Ukraine's Ani Lorak came second with 230 points followed by Greece's Kalomira with 218 points.
In 2009, the Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted by Russia.
