Russia’s Eurovision song will have a little contribution from Malta since Gerard James Borg was one of a team of five to co-write the winner Shine.

The winner was made official by the European Broadcasting Union website Eurovision.tv via Russian national broadcaster RTR.

Mr Borg penned the song with John Ballard and Ralph Charlie, with music by Philipp Kirkorov and Dimitris Kontopolous.

This year, Russia will be represented by the Tolmachevy Twins, who won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2006.

Mr Kirkorov is a well-known composer in Russia and Mr Kontopolous is acclaimed in Greece.

Together with songwriter Philip Vella, Mr Borg also narrowly missed representing France with their entry Ma Liberté.

Mr Vella this year competed in the Maltese national selections with four songs. His song Hypnotica, performed by Jessica Muscat, won the Maltese public televote th though it failed to win the contest.

Mr Borg and Mr Vella nearly brought Malta its first Eurovision glory in 2002 when their song Seventh Wonder, performed by Ira Losco, placed second.

Mr Borg also came close to winning other national selections in different countries with second place in Iceland, third place in Norway, and fourth place in Greece and the Netherlands.